Florestine Carson, unemployed Creole Negro trapper, and daughter, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.

By Ben Shahn (FSA photo by Ben Shahn via [1]) [Public domain], By Ben Shahn (FSA photo by Ben Shahn via [1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons





Citizenship Class in the Hungarian Settlement in Livingston Parish Louisiana - Albany, Louisiana

By Uncredited photographer for the WPA (Works Progress Administration photo via [1]) [Public domain], By Uncredited photographer for the WPA (Works Progress Administration photo via [1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons





1936; Works Progress Administration night school for African Americans in the town of Kenner, Jefferson Parish

By Uncredited WPA photographer (Works Progress Administration photo, via [1]) [Public domain],



By Uncredited WPA photographer (Works Progress Administration photo, via [1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

"Negro school, Destrehan, Louisiana", September 1938

Russell Lee [Public domain], Russell Lee [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons





Musicians playing accordion and washboard in front of a store, near New Iberia, Louisiana. November 1938

Russell Lee [Public domain], Russell Lee [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons





WPA work repaving and widening on St. Claude Avenue, view at the corner of Mandeville Street, with St. Claude

By Uncredited Works Progress Administration photographer (WPA photo via [1]) [Public domain],



By Uncredited Works Progress Administration photographer (WPA photo via [1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

New Roads Louisiana in 1938. Looking across the railroad tracks into the African American section of New Roads, Louisiana. Store sign reads: Felix Fazenda Fine Wines and Liquors. Morning Treat. Signs also for Jax beer, RC Cola, and the Cresent Saloon.

Russell Lee [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons









Life in Louisiana, much like the rest of the United States, moved at a lot slower pace in the 30s than it does today. Yet, there were no shortages of troubles. The song by Alabama folk singer Vera Hall comes to mind.The Great Depression was one of the largest troubles throughout most of the 1930s and affected economies worldwide. With Louisiana being a major agricultural state in the South, these economic problems led to the downfall of many farms. Especially those owned by poor whites and poor blacks alike. Prices of goods fell to all-time lows and many farmers couldn't afford to keep their farms. In turn, workers weren't able to get paid or had to settle for even lower wages at plantations or at other jobs. It was bad enough that many families in rural Louisiana already lived in poverty. The Great Depression made it far worse. As had the drought of 1930-1931 where many families had to apply to get aid from the American Red Cross. More on this can be read at http://www.knowlouisiana.org/entry/great-depression-in-louisiana A poem by, Let America Be America Again, was written during the time of the Great Depression. In it is a section that is an expression of how many citizens felt at the time. Especially in the Southern States where many working-class citizens were affected. Most of us have not learned about the details of this shared history but it was immigrants, more recent descendants of immigrants, descendants of slaves, Native Americans, and owners of small farms who were mainly affected. This while larger farms (wealthy plantations) in the South thrived due to the cheaper labor and other factors. They proudly took advantage of the economic troubles to the detriment of nearly everyone else. See: Were there successful farming plantations during the Great Depression? "I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars.I am the red man driven from the land,I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek--And finding only the same old stupid planOf dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak."Those who were just scraping by before the Great Depression, many of them felt the brunt of the blow of economic troubles. Yet they persevered. Many of these photos display the strong character of those days and of the past. Which was not only a trait of Louisiana but also of Americans from other states and walks of life during the Great Depression.