Federal Writers' Project – Life Histories/2021/Summer/105/Section 10/Harrison Waters

Overview
Harrison Waters was an African American farmer from Talladega Springs, Alabama. He was interviewed about his life and experiences by Jack Kytle for the Federal Writers’ Project on October 21, 1938.

Biography
Harrison Waters was born in Talladega Springs, Alabama around the year 1880, growing up during a time of heightened racial tensions that continued throughout his lifetime. Waters’ father was employed by the town banker, but no information is known relating to his mother or other family members. At the age of 23, when Waters received land from the town banker, he “had never had a day of schooling” and relied on his own workmanship to carve out a living for himself. Shortly after securing the land, Waters built a “shanty” and began his efforts to grow cotton. During this time, he heavily rationed his food as well as possessions. Waters was beginning work on his land at a time when upward mobility was much more common and achievable, specifically within the agricultural profession. When he was 26, Waters started constructing a sturdier house on the land with the help of his neighbor, Emma, and three years later, Waters and Emma moved into this house. Years later, the two had saved enough to build the house that, at the time, was their current house. Waters and Emma continued adding to the land he owned, which had amounted to a few acres.

While up-keeping a farm took most of Waters’ time, he and Emma were attempting to start a family. After losing their first child and son, the two waited before eventually giving birth to their daughter, Selina. Waters had dreams of sending Selina to Talladega College, having her follow in her mother’s footsteps.

Waters preferred to live modestly. Emma, Selina, and he refrained from indulging in clothes or possessions that were not absolutely necessary. Surrounded by mostly white farmers around the same economic class as he was, Waters was respected by most because of his modesty, but many poorer whites in surrounding areas kept him from showing off his wealth. Although Harrison Waters had earned his way to the farm and house his family lived in, he refused to buy an automobile and settled on transportation by “’horse an’ buggy’”, saying that he was afraid of what the white folks might call him. Waters claims that having an automobile would result in increased racist attitudes toward him and his family. Waters had been living humbly in Talladega Springs for 58 years at the time of his interview with Jack Kytle.

Upward Mobility in Agriculture
Beginning in the early 1900’s and continuing through the Great Depression, agriculture remained the backbone of the American economy, accounting for “a substantial share, in the range of 20-60 percent, of spring 1933 growth”. Raised crop prices effectively raised income in agricultural communities, which was especially beneficial during this time period because the country was suffering through an economic Depression and relying heavily on its own agricultural production and consumption. Farming was one of the most efficient and rewarding professions to have during this period. Between 1900 and 1940, black tenant farmers, sharecroppers, and wage laborers were more likely to move up the agricultural ladder and less likely to fall down the agricultural ladder, which often meant losing ownership status. Black farm owners working between 1917 and 1929 were about 8 percent more likely to remain owners the older they were. This mobility could have been partially impacted by the sheer percentage of Americans in agriculture. In 1900, the U.S. farm population was roughly 40%, and the rural share of the U.S. was about 60%, and these percentages increased steadily until World War I, after which point agricultural decreased until 2000. During the 1930’s, agricultural was not as widespread as it had been, and was therefore more vulnerable to the effects of the Great Depression. Although general upward mobility in the U.S. declined throughout the 20th century, those born in the 1870’s and 1880’s had much higher chances of moving of the socioeconomic ladder, regardless of occupation. This can be partially credited to growing up during the Gilded Age, during which time the U.S. economy rapidly expanded. Those growing up during the Great Depression had much lower chances of upward mobility. The reason for upward mobility, especially for farmers in mid 1900’s, varies depending on the time period, but one constant set of factors is “thrift, luck, or hard work".

Race Relations
The 1929 Stock Market Crash and the subsequent economic depression had huge implications for African Americans and their fight for equal rights. The Great Depression revealed how deeply engrained racism was in almost every aspect of American society, even when the entire country was suffering. Black Americans were the first to be impacted by cuts in hours, jobs, and “had less of a financial cushion to fall back on when the economy collapsed”. As the country began recovering from the stock market crash, many African Americans were fired and replaced with whites who needed jobs. The black unemployment rate reached 50% in 1932, and the south saw this number reach 70% by 1934. These racial disparities encouraged African Americans to join grass roots movements across the nation, eventually gaining enough momentum to propel these efforts into the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. During the 1930's, President Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to address the country’s suffering with his New Deal program. However, the New Deal has been called “ambivalent” and did little to help African Americans. White Americans remained the main beneficiaries of many of these programs, including FHA loans, Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, and countless labor protections. However, through practices such as redlining, racial segregation in housing and workplaces was reinforced by President Roosevelt’s efforts. African Americans suffered the most as a result of the Great Depression, which wiped out jobs, bearable living conditions and financial needs for many who were barely scraping by. The lack of attention these racial inequalities received shows the racial attitudes during this time. Americans were not yet willing to address these issues, especially when everyone was in need of government assistance.