I was born in raised in Oklahoma,
so the term Okie was something I always called myself. However, to my Grandma’s generation that word
was an insult. During the Great
Depression, thousands of farmers and their families from the Great Plains and
Midwest packed up and moved West looking for work and way to survive. The whole country was suffering, unemployment
was at a high and the dust bowl was causing havoc to American farms. The people in the West saw all these people
moving in as a burden. Okie became the
slang term for anyone who moved there in search of some sort of farming job and
better life. The Okies were poor,
homeless and desperate. They were
willing to take any job available, often at a lower wage. They set up tent cities, and lived in
Hoovervilles—not more than shacks built with whatever materials they could find
on whatever free land they stay on. The
native Californians saw them as little more than a plague on their state.
I disagree with the portrayal of Okies.
These people were doing their best; they were hard workers in a desperate
situation. They were not out to destroy California;
they were just trying to do what was best for their family. They shouldn’t be remembered as a problem,
but as people who were willing to do whatever it took so they could
survive. It a trying time in our
country, they came to represent the best of the American spirit.
I think they shouldn't get called names & for this to be an insult either because they did all they could to live & to support their family.
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ReplyDeletei think that the ones that were living in california were only thinking about themselves because the okies just wanted a job.
ReplyDeleteI think that Californians back then were selfish, because they didn't want to give Okies the chance to have a job.
ReplyDeleteThe word "Okies" shouldn't be a insult because everyone was poor, homeless and desperate. Everyone was out looking for a job, and somewhere to stay at. But i agree that they should be remembered as people that are willing to do anything to survive.
ReplyDeleteI Think The California People Were Just BEing Selfish And Decided To Call The Oklahoma People Names. When The Oklahoma People All They Wanted Was A Job To Make The Best Out Of There Lifes An Take Care Of Their Familys.
ReplyDeleteI Dont Think People Should Be Offended With That Word Because The Depression Wasn't Only In Oklahoma. And The Californian's Are Self-Centered.
ReplyDeleteI think that the californians were being selfish because all the okies were only wonting is to find a job and have a better life for their families.
ReplyDeleteI think that California is being selfish ,only thinking bout them selves. In the fact that they didn't want to give Okies the chance of getting a job . Also i really don't' think that "Okies" is that much of an insult. Because everyone was or is poor and don't have nothing much in life and are wiling to do anything to survive.
ReplyDeletei think Californians where wrong for not letting them look for a job on there farm so they can make a living and support there family and don't dye or have to go with out food
ReplyDeleteI think they were wrong for making up the name "Okie" I mean it's like bad, and stupid because the problem can happen to them
ReplyDeleteThis was unfair. Okies where just looking for jobs during desperate times. Anyone would of done the same thing in the same situation.
ReplyDeleteI Dont Think They Shuldnt Get Mad Or Hurted Because Of How They Named Them Beacuse The Depression Wasnt Only In Ohklahoma
ReplyDeletei think that it was messed up that california wasnt letting the okies get a job! all they wanted was a better life!
ReplyDeletei think it was messed up because they called them names and then they count even get a job that preatty messed up.
ReplyDeleteThis was very unfair ! ! ! they were just looking for a better life . . . just like everyone has at some point. AAnd it was unfair its not nice to call people names.
ReplyDeleteThis really makes me think about "nicknames" we find acceptable today. I think it is so interesting that what one group of people / generation of people does not consider as offensive (Mrs. Burks didn't find it offensive to be called an Okie, but her grandma did). Are there examples of this same situation in today's society? If one group of people find something offensive and / or it was originally created to be offensive to a group of people, should people use the term even if they do not think it is offensive?
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