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August 1936. "People living in miserable poverty. Elm Grove, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma." Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The girl can also be seen here.
I would say this boy was about 11 when this was taken. The war was a little over five years away. I would bet that, by 1942, he had enlisted in some branch of the service. I would also bet that he did not take part in the widespread complaining about the cooking and accommodations on stateside bases. "SOS" and a bunk in a barracks, complete with indoor plumbing, would have been luxury compared to what we see in this picture.
It's funny but now SBU (Ukrainian Security Service) tried to prove starvation in Ukraine with Shorpy photos.
http://varjag-2007.livejournal.com/687279.html
Waiting for new collage.
I believe all the poverty/hardship seen in these pictures of the South...can be directly traced to the slash/burn policy of Shermans. THe South espically the slave states.. The war ended in 1865...those born in that year..would have been 40 years old..they in turn had children who carried the burden placed on them...it goes on to present day. however THE SOUTH DID RISE AGAin.. My comments do not reflect the right or wrong of slavery. That topic is still being discuss dailey..
[Check your math. And spelling. - Dave]
I absolutely adore Dorothea Lange's work! Damaged Child--the picture of the girl--is one of my favorites, I'm so delighted to find another picture of her! She reminds me of Sofie (but as a child) in Carnivale, the HBO show I dearly love--and the reason why I got interested in the 1930s and so much more. In fact, all of Dorothea Lange's marvelous work reminds me of Carnivale.
Wonderful website by the way! The pictures and graphic design are absolutely stupendous!
For the cost of your internet connection, your in-laws in Borneo could live like royalty. 1930's Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas were tough places to scratch out a living during the double-whammy of the dust bowl and depression - my family included. I see two fairly healthy-looking kids in the picture - seems Mom was doing a pretty good job considering the circumstances.
I have in-laws who live almost at this level today -- in Borneo.
She reminds me of "Scout" in To Kill A Mockingbird.
The girl is even more creepy in this photo than in the other one. And the poverty! This family has really reached rock bottom. Haunting.
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