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July 1939. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. "Children of May Avenue camp family in small shack used as sleeping quarters. Poverty-stricken inhabitants here dwell in squalor, filth and vermin." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
It is almost incomprehensible to imagine such squalor in the United States. I feel so sorry for anyone of any age who has, or ever had, to live in conditions like this. I know things were bad at that time and I can only hope and pray that our citizens will never be subjected to conditions like this ever again.
This picture brought tears to my eyes.
Could these innocent babies even think about how uncomfortable their lives were or imagine a more pleasant existence. It was most likely the only life they ever knew. Even in his descriptions of the poorest of the poor, Steinbeck could not convey in words how dire their lives were. A picture speaks a thousand words is not just a saying.
Maybe a "Do Not Embiggen" warning, Dave?
This is, without question, the saddest photo I've ever seen on this site. My heart breaks for these poor kids.
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