Together as One

When I look at this picture it makes me think of happiness. In this photograph, you see a number of women playing an activity with what looks like a basketball. They are all arranged like they are playing a creative game outside. This picture made me think of an athletic team playing at a practice and the coach is getting everyone prepared for the big game. Something I started to notice to look at the picture after looking at the description is that there is a church behind them. In the description it explains that the women are enjoying their recreation activities while they break from learning how to read and write.

The location of these pictures describes the things women did while men were working. They tended to their cleaning duties, cooking, and to educate their selves. When he took this picture it was like he was on the same level as them just further away from the women to capture a real moment. I think he did an excellent job in capturing the happiness that they all were having. Its like nothing in the world could truly bring them down from that moment. I think that Rothstein did a great job getting everyone at a happy state because of the living conditions that they were living through.  I think overall Rothstein made it where you understood that you are the controller of your own destiny. If you are down because of where you stand in life, it could only get worse in life.

- Tatiana

Peace during The Great Depression

When I look at this photograph I get a feeling of peace. I notice all the sheets of newspaper covering the wall in the background of the house. I like the newspaper on the wall in a sense of their decorations. I zoomed in on the picture and looked at the newspaper’s I saw a picture about a car and a white woman. Noticing the details on the newspaper made me wonder if they were keeping up with current events that had taken place. The grandmother and what appear to be her two granddaughters are found sitting on the bed. They look calm as if they are resting for a minute. Even though they are not smiling I do not feel that they were sad or felt affected by the Great Depression.

            I studied the picture a little bit more and noticed the quilt that was laid on the bed and the intricate pattern it obtained. Was the quilt significant to them? After doing a little bit more research I found out that Gees Bend, Alabama was famous for the quilts. How many people in the Gees Bend community made quilts? Did they sell of even trade them?

            Arthur Rothstein appeared to be taking this photograph at the same level. I think he did an excellent job in capturing a moment of rest and peace from the three ladies. No matter what was going on in the world around them they didn’t let the Great Depression change how they viewed or lived their lives they were at peace and content. I think Arthur wanted us to see this photograph, to show the living style they were used to and the sense of peace they had.  Most of the photographs in the 1930s showed the homes, work and labor during the Great Depression, I liked this particular photograph, because it symbolized the rest and peace they contained.

-Kayla

All in a Day's Work

Allie Singer

Dr. Doolen & Mr. Parmer

ENG 191

27 January 2014

All in a Day’s Work

            When thinking about the Great Depression, the first thought that usually comes to mind is that it was, with loss of a better word, depressing. The “Migrant Mother” photograph immediately comes to mind, and I always think how awful life must have been. However, after examining Arthur Rothstein’s collection of photographs of tenant farmers from Gees Bend, Alabama, I was surprised to find that the people in his photographs did not appear utterly distraught as I had expected them to. The photograph I chose is entitled “Pat Bendolph, one of the tenants at Gees Bend, Alabama.” At first glance this photograph seems simple, but after examining it more closely, the subject of the photo represents the tenants of Gees Bend that worked hard and were happy with their lives despite the obstacles they faced.

             Pat Bendolph is the sole person in the photograph, and what I first noticed was that he is smiling. During the Great Depression, you would not expect to see many smiling faces; therefore his grin would not give any hint that this was taken during that time period. The photo takes place in Gees Bend, Alabama, and he is standing in a field. It can be inferred that he has been working from the clothes he is wearing, and that he is an older man. An important detail that I did not take note of at first was that he is holding the straps of his overalls as if he has just finished a hard day of work.

The focus and mood of the photograph are also revealing. Bendolph is in full focus, while the field behind him is out of focus, making him the focal point of the photograph. When looking at the photograph, I imagine Bendolph walking back from a long day of work, happy to be going home. The mood of the photograph has an almost cheerful tone, as if Bendolph was telling a story or a joke. This could be a man with many problems, but his smile reveals that he is making the best out of what he has. For this reason, this photograph is different from previous pictures and documents that have shaped my opinions and understanding about what life was like during the Great Depression. I believe that Rothstein’s goal of this photograph was to reveal through Bendolph, that the people of Gees Bend did not allow their tribulations to keep them from having a positive outlook on their lives.

Joy of Mother and Child

This photograph was taken by Arthur Rothstein during The Great Depression. it depicts a negro mother holding her infant child. The first thing I noticed about this picture, was that it depicts a moment of happiness during a time in the country when times were tough for everyone. With this depiction centering around a mother and her young infant child, I get a feeling of unity and serenity, this is also emphasized by the other members of the family in the background. I can see in this photo that the vantage point is on level with the people being taken, which to me symbolizes a certain kind of equality in the essence of the picture. This picture to me symbolizes the bond of a family during hard times. Though times during this period in the US were very tough and unforgiving for the majority of folks, this photo shows that people could still live and be joyous.
I feel that this photo showed me a side of that period I was not familiar with, I had always thought of The Great Depression as being this horrible, depressing event, but this provides me a view of it that shows even during such a time, people can still find time to be happy. The sun shining on the woman really emphasizes the brightness, the joyfulness of the situation. I also notice in the photo how there is an older white man in the background. Though his relationship to the negro family is undetermined, I get the feeling there is some sort of bond between him and them, this to me shows the general attachment some people had to each other during this time period, regardless of their background.
I think that Arthur Rothstein took this photo to show a lighter side of The Great Depression, to show a simple moment of joy between a mother and child, that even during such a had time, being with your family smiling can make things just a little bit better.

Gee's Bend Residents Continue Striving for Education

In this photograph, Mr. Hale from Snow Hill is conducting church in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church building in April, 1937. The first thing I notice about this photograph is how focused all of the students look while Mr. Hale teaches. He seems to have a look of satisfaction on his face, and I think it is because everyone is listening carefully to what he has to say. Mr. Hale, an adult woman that appears to be an assistant of some sort, and an audience of students are photographed here. The students are people of various ages, not just children. There are adults in the front row and children in the back, and they are of both genders.

The setting of this photo is the Baptist Church, and this is because there were no schoolhouses in Gee’s Bend. They make do with what they have. You can see this is a church building from the sign “One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism” placed at top. The windows and pews also resemble that of a church building, which you can see if you examine their surroundings. The lighting of this photograph is centered, and this draws your focus toward the audience, especially the front row. The lighting is also quite targeted on Mr. Hale, bringing him into the main focus of the photograph. The photographer, Arthur Rothstein, is on the same level as the subjects. He is also standing back quite a bit in order to capture some surroundings and focus of the image. The way the image is captured, I tend to focus exactly on what is happening in this photo instead of being distracted by what the church interior looks like.

I feel like the mood of this photograph is focus and satisfaction. Being described as an isolated and primitive community, the Gee’s Bend residents did not have a schoolhouse or regular teacher and classes to attend. But as you can see, they do not simply ignore the fact that education is a priority. They aren’t talking or distracted. They are focused on what Mr. Hale has to say, and they want to learn. He wants to teach, and the satisfaction comes from taking the resources that they have and being able to have school.

Many photographs in this collection and in the 1930s as a whole show the labor, work, families, and homes in this time period. But this photograph demonstrates education is important to the people, even in isolated communities with little to no resources. I think the author wants you to see that even though the Gee’s Bend residents’ speech habits and culture material was described as being from an older African origin, they strive for intelligence and hope for their future.

-Erica

Tenant Famers Dedication, Resilience, and Hope for the Future

Jorena Pettway from Gee’s Bend, Alabama is clearly taking her work seriously. She is focused and intent. I noticed first the canning jars that are lining the shelves of her smokehouse. Not only is Jorena working hard to sort the vegetables she has on her lap but also there is a sense of preparation that surrounds her by the very focus of the photograph. Arthur Rothstein titles his piece that gives us a glimpse into Jorena’s world. He tells us about the harvest in jars surrounding her to be “canned last year”. I began to wonder how this woman sees herself in other roles she has in her community. Perhaps being a mother, helper, provider, or a leader are some of the hats that she wears in her life.

            As I looked at the photograph longer I noticed the cans or spools underneath the shelves. No matter what they contain, the theme continued to resonate with me as one of dedication. It is a picture of the work of her hands and her families. The lighting seems to be bright and illuminate the shelving to draw my attention in. The location of the smokehouse made me wonder if it was a cold day so she decided to work indoors or even if a quiet place was her goal to be productive.

            Arthur Rothstein seems to take the picture from below Jorena or even with her as he focuses on the complete view of the room. The snapshot is not only the work being done currently but also in the past. It sends a message to me that not only was tedious work done on the farms but much work was done in order to prepare for the future and the unknown.

            This tenant community gave Rothstein a glimpse into their everyday lives and in doing so exemplified a people with frugal means creating something bigger than them. Rothstein in my opinion is focusing on the results of hard work, dedication and focus that created a community of stability in the middle of tough economic times. To me, the photograph of Jorena suggests that resources used wisely created hope of a future generation overcoming challenges.  

-Caroline