1930: More than half of African-Americans live in the South as
farmers Decline in cotton prices leave many African-Americans
without sufficient incomes African-Americans forced to leave rural
areas for cities, whites occupy jobs formerly for blacks Black
Shirts 1932: More than half of southern African-Americans
unemployed Even in northern cities, African-American unemployment
at 50% or more The Scottsboro Case, illustrates survival of racism
and segregation in South NAACP defends African-American rights, and
argues for membership in unions AFRICAN AMERICANS & THE
DEPRESSION
Slide 3
Slide 4
Mexican-Americans experience similar discrimination as
African-Americans Many had filled the same types of menial labor
jobs in the West as blacks in the South Many rural families become
migrant agricultural workers Most Mex-Americans live in cities,
fill the low skill industrial jobs, high unemployment Many relief
programs exclude Mexicans from their rolls Many Mexicans &
Mexican-Americans leave for Mexico, or deported (including
citizens) Latinos generally had no access to schools, many
hospitals refused to treat them MEXICAN-AMERICANS & THE
DEPRESSION
Slide 5
Slide 6
Reinforces belief that womens place was in the home, not
workplace Women whose husbands were employed commonly refused work
Many women, however, were employed and worked through 1930s By the
end of the Depression 20% more women worked than before the crash
Still, women more likely to be denied professional work and to be
laid off Traditionally female service jobs less likely to decline
as male dominated heavy industry Even unemployed men do not seek
out womens work African-American women suffer the most during the
depression WOMEN & THE DEPRESSION
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Slide 8
Retreat from consumerism Women return to sewing clothes for
families, selves Home businesses like laundry service, baked goods,
boarding on rise Divorce rate declines because of high cost of
court fees, informal family breakups Men leave home to find work in
far off places, or to escape humiliation of unemployment Birth
rates and marriage rates decline, some traditional family
values/roles resurge Persistence of the Success Ethic Some
criticize the economic system in general, many blame selves Social
unrest not as high as expected due to passivity of unemployed Dale
Carnegies How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936) THE
DEPRESSION, FAMILIES, & AMERICAN VALUES
Slide 9
Slide 10
Popular Front: coalition of antifascist groups, including
Communist Party Paint the Great Depression as the failure of the
capitalist system Spanish Civil-War being fought between Francos
fascists (supported by Hitler & Mussolini) and the republican
government, many Americans fight against Franco Under directions of
the Soviet Union, American Communist Party joins with other groups
Support for FDR and the New Deal, FDR seen as possible Soviet ally
versus Hitler Southern Tenant Farmers Union Being part of the
Political Left becomes more acceptable, even conventional THE LEFT
& THE POPULAR FRONT
