Newark Geography

The show is set in Newark which is also where the playwright is from. The script includes many details of places around Newark and the surrounding areas. Below you will find pictures and information about some of these places.

Newark as a city makes sense for a setting of the play because it has a high amount of immigrants. 35% of all the residents are born in a foreign country. Recently there has been discussion of putting in a migrant detention center in Newark. You can read about that here

Check out this video for more information and details about this neighborhood in Newark. This is where B and G live and is known for being more international.  The name comes from the large metalworking factories in it as well as being surrounded by many railroad tracks. It is a very working class community that has housed factory workers back to the 19th century. The neighborhood also has a reputation for being environmental justice having significant protestsin the 80's and 90's and even recently in 2019.

This reference posed some questions for me. This road is supposedly in South Kearny a town just east of the Ironbound neighborhood. This road doesn't exist which is odd considering most of the other geography in the play is almost hyperspecific. There is a road called fish house road in South Kearny and there are multiple correctional facilities in New Jersey that are used to house people detained by ICE (US immigration and Customs Enforcement) who will be deported. One such facility in South Kearny is Hudson county Correctional Facility. Unlike the one described in the play it houses both male and female individuals.  It is estimated that half of all the inmates in this facility are ICE detainees. You can see a photo tour of this facility here. This facility has often made the news for how poorly the inmates are treated.