The Famous "Oh, the humanity!" Cry
The Famous "Oh, the humanity!" Cry
On May 6, 1937, reporter Herbert Morrison was covering the Hindenburg disaster, a tragic event that occurred when the German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock at the Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey.
As Morrison witnessed the horrific scene unfold before his eyes, he famously cried out, "Oh, the humanity!" in a moment of shock and despair. His emotional reaction captured the gravity of the situation and has since become one of the most iconic phrases in broadcasting history.
The Hindenburg disaster was a turning point in the history of air travel, leading to increased safety regulations and the eventual decline of airships as a mode of transportation. Morrison's emotional reporting of the event helped to bring attention to the tragedy and its impact on the lives of those involved.
Herbert Morrison's cry of "Oh, the humanity!" serves as a reminder of the human cost of disasters and the importance of empathy and compassion in journalism.