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“The Negro must build on his own basis apart from the white man’s foundation if he ever hopes to be a master builder.” -Marcus Mosiah

This quote connects with Black American Experiences during the New Deal era by mirroring the anger and frustration that they had to go through just to be recognized. During this time, it was clear that a discriminatory system was in place to make sure that Black Americans struggled to have any sort of power or independence. Most of Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal Acts failed to address or fix any kind of discrimination or segregation against Black people. These African Americans were neglected from any sort of program that could have benefited their livelihood. All of this made it clear that if a Black person wanted to be heard, they couldn't stand in the shadows forever.

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"It was an enormously hard life… But there was also a sense of great satisfaction in being a child with valuable work to do and, being able to do it well, to function in this world."

-Margot Hentoff in Down and Out in the Great Depression: Letter from the Forgotten Man

This quote connects child experiences with the New Deal era by showing the child's appreciation of being able to contribute to society. The New deal era also benefited children during this time by creating jobs to help families stay afloat. With this, children felt a sense of value in being able to help their families make some money during these hardships. If I were a child during this time period, I know I would find satisfaction in being able to contribute to helping my families financial situation.

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"The migrant people, scuttling for work, scrabbing to live, looked always for pleasure, dug for pleasure, manufactured pleasure, and they were hungry for amusement. Sometimes amusement lay in speech, and they climbed up their lives and jokes."

-from The Grapes of Wrath

This quote represents the resilience that these migrant families had during the Great Depression since surviving was a daily struggle. There was a constant search for employment, which migrants were usually forced into agriculture work. Even with all these hardships the quote says that the families used their sense of humor to battle through and lift each other up. The way that they can find a positive light in their jokes gives a whole new perspective on their attitudes. They could barely afford to get by and were doing hard work, but something so little as a joke could keep their spirits high. This right here, shows there resourcefulness and resilience.

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"When they need us they call us migrants. When we’ve picked their crops were bums and we've got to get out."

- migratory worker, in This Fabulous Century

This quote speaks out to to the dehumanizing treatment that migrant workers faced. Migrant families were constantly in search of work to support their families, and when needed, they were valued for their hard work. When they were no longer needed, they were tossed aside and called disgusting names. These migrants were crucial to agriculture production but were never treated with respect. This quote helps envision the frustration of this migrant worker who feels so passionately about their life. If I were in this position, I would want nothing but to be looked at with respect and feel valued for the labor I am committing, when no one else is willing to do such a thing.

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"In the 1930’s, to ease the strain on United States; resources, the federal government sent back to Mexico tens of thousands MExican American who were on relief. Sometimes whole families were hered aboard cantle cars and transported south of the border; Many of these people had actually been born in the United States and were United States citizens. Many of the men had served in the armed forces during World War 1) But such considerations were overlooked in carrying out the policy of deportation. Mexican Americans were encouraged, even “helped,” to leave the United States."

- from A Mexican American Chronicle

This quote highlights the unjust treatment of Mexican American Families during the New Deal era, especially with deportation. Even if you were born in the United States, or helped fight in WW1, the government took it in their hands to deport tens of thousands of Mexican Americans who were on relief. This reflected a great deal on ethnic discrimination during this time period. Many families were targeted even though they had rights and were legal citizens of this country. This deportation campaign represented the lack of protection our citizens had at the time and the difficulties colored people faced due to the New Deal Era.

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"My family needs some cloths for they are about naked i have four boys going to school and this makes the second week they have stay home for they do not have any cloths or show to wear."

-letter to Sen. Nelly from J.T.C, 1935, in Down and Out In the Great Depression: Letters from the Forgotten Man

This quote illustrates the extreme poverty that farmer families had to go through. It went as far as to not being able to get your children an education because they don't have clothes to wear to school. The speaker uses a desperate tone to portray the lack of clothing for his boys. The agriculture sector was hit heavily during the great depression because of droughts, failing crop sales, and land erosion. This lead to a widespread unemployment pandemic among many farming families. Even though the new deal brought some relief, it wasn't efficient enough to help the majority of families. These dire circumstances of which these humans lived is an idea hard to juggle. So many barriers were faced just to provide clothes on your kids backs and put food on the table. It shouldn't have been that way.

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"I am a widow with a son fourteen years of age and am trying to support him and myself and keep him in school on a very small sum which I make. I feel worthy of asking you about this: I am greatly in need of a Coat. If you have one which you have laid aside from last season would appreciate it so much if you would send it to me"

-letter to Elanor Roosevelt, 1934, in Down and Out in the Great Depression: Letters from the Forgotten Man

This quote represents the immense challenges that women faced to survive. This quote particularly written by a widow who is struggling to support her teenager son, let alone her self writes in a desperate tone for just a coat. A basic necessity such a coat isn't such a basic need back then. This is a reflection of the gendered struggles of women during the New Era. Although some women were able to find work through the WPA, their was societal expectations that portrayed the idea that women weren't meant to work. Women had to go through a more broader sense of desperation to get what they needed. This now represents their resilience and bravery to support their families during such harsh times.

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"We ain’t no paupers. We hold ourselves to be decent folks. We don’t want no relief. But what we do want is a chanst to make an honest living like what we was raised.

-One of the down and out, in Down and Out in the Great Depression: Letters from the Forgotten Man"

This quote represents the pride of migrant workers during the great depression and new deal era. The speaker rejects the negative idea as being seen as poor folk, and gives and positive attitude towards their character. The speaker also claims that they do not need any relief program to show how hard of a worker they are because that is just the way they were raised. This captures the deep level of self respect that migrants have for themselves during these harsh conditions. These migrants only viewed government help as a temporary measure, and made it a promise to help themselves. The economy made it difficult for any family to have secure financial situation but it shows the persistance that they hold.

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"If they come to take my farm, I’m going to fight. I’d rather be killed outright than die by starvation. But before I die, I’m going to set fire to my crops, I’m going to burn my house, I’m going to p’izen my cattle. "

- debt-ridden farmer, in This Fabulous Century

This quote demonstrates the rage of a debt-ridden farmer during the Great Depression. This quote illustrates extreme economic conditions with the violent way that the man talks. In this case, this farmer would rather have died a devistating way than of starvation and would take all his crops and farm with him. This shows how far they were willing to go to protect their farms and land that rightfully so belonged to them. We often see a pattern of defiance in the agricultural world, especially going into the new deal era.

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“Negroes – Sweet and docile, Meek, humble, and kind: Beware the day – They change their mind.”

-Langston Hughes

This quote represents the tension arising between black Americans and the government. Benefits for Black Americans were often limited, and especially now. Segregation and unequal opportunities continued. This quote gives a passive aggressive tone about African Americans being subservient which white people passed on. The phrase "Beware the day they change their mind" gives off an eire but threatening vibe. This is a larger message that means one day the African Americans are not going to take this discrimination and behavior any longer. This was a warning that social status was soon to change and that civil rights would become equal sooner or later.