COTTON PICKER, 1935. A young African American migrant worker picking cotton, Pulaski County

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COTTON PICKER, 1935. A young African American migrant worker picking cotton, Pulaski County

COTTON PICKER, 1935.
A young African American migrant worker picking cotton, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Photograph by Ben Shahn on October 1935

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Media ID 13213465

1935 Arkansas Black Child Labor Cotton County Farm Farming Field Great Depression Harvest Migrant Worker New Deal October Picker Plantation Poor Profile Pulaski Sack Shahn Sweater Working Class Young Southeast Unidentified

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EDITORS COMMENTS
COTTON PICKER, 1935: A Glimpse into the Struggles of African American Migrant Workers during the Great Depression". This powerful photograph captured by Ben Shahn in October 1935 transports us back to a time when America was grappling with economic hardship. In Pulaski County, Arkansas, a young African American migrant worker can be seen laboring in a cotton field. With his worn-out hat and tattered sweater, he embodies the resilience and determination of those who faced immense challenges during this era. The image serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities that many African Americans endured as they sought employment opportunities on plantations across the Southeast. This unidentified boy's profile tells an untold story of child labor and poverty that plagued countless families at the time. As part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal initiative, which aimed to alleviate suffering caused by the Great Depression, this photograph also sheds light on how government programs like Farm Security Administration (FSA) attempted to address these issues. However, it is crucial not to overlook the systemic racism prevalent within these efforts. Today, this print serves as both a historical document and an artistic testament to human strength amidst adversity. It reminds us of our collective responsibility to acknowledge past injustices while striving for equality and justice for all individuals regardless of their race or background.

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