Sharecroppers Collection
In the heart of Person County, North Carolina in 1939, a community of resilient individuals known as sharecroppers struggled to make ends meet
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In the heart of Person County, North Carolina in 1939, a community of resilient individuals known as sharecroppers struggled to make ends meet. Dorothea Lange's poignant photographs capture their daily lives and the harsh realities they faced. One image reveals a rail fence with a poor barbed wire fence in the foreground. This simple barrier symbolizes the limited opportunities available to these hardworking families. Nearby, we see the humble home of a tenant at Hillside Farm. It stands as a testament to their perseverance amidst adversity. Lange's lens also focuses on the wives and children of sharecroppers. Their faces tell stories of resilience and determination, reflecting both hope for better days and an unyielding love for their families. A young sharecropper cradles his first child, embodying dreams for a brighter future while shouldering immense responsibilities at such a tender age. The tobacco industry played an integral role in this region's economy during that time period. We catch glimpses of both sides: a proud tobacco farmer who owned 100 acres and worked tirelessly to sustain his livelihood; meanwhile, another photograph captures the white owner topping tobacco plants – highlighting racial dynamics within this system. Within this challenging landscape, farm machinery finds shelter under an old tobacco barn – evidence of resourcefulness even amid scarcity. The road leading from one sharecropper's house speaks volumes about their isolation from society but also serves as a reminder that they were not alone in their struggles. Tobacco sleds covered with tow sacks await harvest season – symbols of laborious work yet hopeful anticipation for fruitful yields that would sustain these families throughout the year. Lastly, Lange takes us onto the porch of a Negro tenant house where household equipment is proudly displayed. Despite meager resources, these tenants found ways to create comfort within their homes through ingenuity and resourcefulness. Dorothea Lange's photographs immortalize moments frozen in time - capturing the resilience, strength, and determination in Person County.