Replies

I was working for 50¢ an hour in the cotton fields in the 50s, my dad (born 1916) told me that when he first married my mom, he was 20 years old and worked in a cotton gin for 50¢ per day and was very happy to have the job, even at that, the job was seasonal and there was no unemployment. I've since heard others say that they worked for even less per day. These were minimum 10 hour days.

He also hunted at night when I was a kid and occasionally would take me with him, spot lighting was illegal even back then but he shot what he could find to help feed his family. I can still smell that old carbide light.

I was working for 50¢ an hour in the cotton fields in the 50s, my dad (born 1916) told me that when he first married my mom, he was 20 years old and worked in a cotton gin for 50¢ per day and was very happy to have the job, even at that, the job was seasonal and there was no unemployment.

Wow, thank you for sharing this. There was hardship in those days that young people now do not have. My dad had it rough (born 1911) but by the time I came along after WWII things were better. My dad's father died when my dad was an infant, and his mother struggled with 3 boys. No welfare in those days, they often had to beg food from neighbors who would fix them a plate. His mom died and the 3 boys as young teens had to work and care for themselves. Life was hard back then, and worse in the depression. I'm grateful my dad worked so hard yet never complained. Like you say, he was happy to work.