Detailed Introduction, Grapes of Wrath

During the 1930’s farmers from the Midwest began moving to California in

search of work. Losing everything they’ve owned resulted in many families to move

across the country to an unfamiliar new place. California was rumored to have jobs, fertile

fields, and perfect weather. The state was advertised as the “Land of Sunshine and

Opportunity”, (Schrag 90) which attracted many to move. To many California was an

escape to find better and achieve the “American Dream” but what many didn’t know

where the struggles of moving miles away from home. Many were driven by the drought

and dust storms to make the difficult journey to California where they hoped to find work.

According to The Migrant Experience many farmers believed that California was the ideal

place due to its mild climate that allowed for a long growing season. California was seen

as a “promised land” where farmers could reestablish themselves. Upon arriving to

California many hoped to become new hires on California farms, but they did not know

that California farm owners only hired seasonal workers when needed. Although many

found temporary work picking fruit or chopping cotton growers expected them to

disappear when no longer needed.

In California, farm workers were used to perform special task instead of learning

how to be farmers of their own land. Being a seasonal farmer meant that farmers had to

travel in searching for work year around in order to support their family. Farmers would

often have to travel around California, place to place just to find some sort of work. But for

many there was no job to move to. Being homeless forced many migrant families to live

on ditch banks with pitched tents. Homes were built from crates or other odd findings.

These “migratory jungles” (Dickie 131) were considered homes while others slept in their

cars. In “The Grapes of Wrath” John Steinbeck told the story of the Joad Family’s

migration from Oklahoma to California. Not only does Steinbeck illustrate the Joad’s

struggles of finances death, and discrimination along the way, but he also showed how

their struggles continued in California. As optimistic as the Joads were along the trip they

eventually realize that there were greater challenges and hardship in California. Steinbeck

states "They were hungry, and they were fierce. And they had hoped to find a home, and

they found only hatred", (233) which emphasizes the discrimination that migrant workers

also had to deal with upon moving to California. For migrant workers including the Joads

faced hatred from the locals, store owners, and also landowners. Locals feared that the

migrant workers would take away their jobs while store owners despised them for not

having any money to spend. Furthermore, landowners feared that migrant workers would

steal the land of their forefathers. For the Joads and other migrant workers California

turned out to be a nightmare that only resulted in discouragement, homeless, and hunger.

Work was scarce and difficult for them to find. Their only desire was to own a home and

make enough money to live a decent life.

Our gallery portrays stories of other migrant workers and the challenges that they

had to face along their journey to California. The poems and songs illustrate their

difficulties which were similar and different to what the Joad’s family had to go through.

Many had to find a home in a state that they’ve never been to before and also had to deal

with the feeling of homesickness. The songs and poems in our gallery were a way for

migrant workers to deal with their aches and also for a way for them to tell their truths of

what they had to face. By reading and hearing their experiences readers can have a

better understand of what the Joad family had to deal with.