The bigger story behind this photograph

Summary

This video explores the story behind Dorothea Lange's iconic 'Migrant Mother' photograph, capturing Florence Thompson during the Great Depression. It delves into the lives of both women, their journeys shaped by geography, government programs, and climate, culminating in their chance meeting in Nipomo, California. The narrative challenges the simplified Okie narrative, highlighting the broader impact of the Depression and Dust Bowl on migration. Despite the photo's widespread use and Thompson's subsequent obscurity, the image endures as a testament to their resilience and the power of photography to document history.

Takeaways

• 📸 The iconic 'Migrant Mother' photograph by Dorothea Lange captures a moment in history, representing not just one woman but two: Lange and her subject, Florence Thompson.
• 🌾 Florence Thompson's family followed migratory labor patterns, moving across California for seasonal work, a system influenced by the state's diverse climate and harvest times.
• 🏞️ The Great Depression and Dust Bowl era led to significant migration to California, including many from Oklahoma, known as 'Okies', though Thompson's Cherokee heritage provided a distinct narrative.
• 🔭 Dorothea Lange's personal struggles with polio and her experiences with poverty influenced her empathetic approach to documenting the lives of migrant workers.
• 💼 Lange's marriage to agricultural economist Paul S. Taylor, who authored a study on migration, further connected her to the subject matter she was photographing.
• 🏭 Lange's work was initially commissioned by government agencies during the New Deal era to document and advocate for better conditions for agricultural workers.
• 🚘 The serendipitous meeting between Lange and Thompson occurred when Thompson's car broke down in Nipomo, a town known for pea harvesting, during a cold and rainy February.
• 📷 Lange's photographic technique often focused on capturing one face directly, creating an intimate and personal connection with the subject, as seen in her 'Migrant Mother' photo.
• 💭 Despite the widespread publication and impact of the 'Migrant Mother' image, Thompson and her family did not benefit directly from the attention, and her identity remained unknown for decades.
• 🌐 The story behind the 'Migrant Mother' photo underscores the importance of considering the historical and geographical context that shapes individual lives and the broader narrative of an era.

Q & A

Who are the two women bound together by the famous photograph from the Great Depression?

The two women are Dorothea Lange, the photographer, and Florence Thompson, the subject of the photograph.

What significant event in American history led to the Cherokee displacement that Florence Thompson's family was a part of?

The Cherokee displacement was a result of the Indian Removal Act, often referred to as the Trail of Tears.

Why did Florence Thompson and her family migrate to California?

They migrated to California to participate in the existing system of seasonal labor, traveling through the state during harvest times.

What role did California's climate play in the migration patterns of agricultural workers like Florence Thompson?

California's climate caused the movement of tens of thousands of people up and down the state due to peak seasonal labor requirements occurring at different times in various regions.

How did Dorothea Lange's early life experiences and her battle with polio influence her photography?

Lange's experiences with polio and her awareness of urban poverty from her time in the Lower East Side influenced her to create real, true, and individual portrait photographs.

What was the impact of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl on Dorothea Lange's career?

The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl damaged her studio portraiture business but shifted her focus towards documenting poverty and the struggles of migrant workers.

Why did the government hire Dorothea Lange to take photographs of migrant workers?

Lange was hired to document the conditions of migrant workers as part of a New Deal era attempt to secure funding for programs that would help agricultural workers.

What was the significance of the photograph 'Migrant Mother' in the context of the Great Depression?

The photograph 'Migrant Mother' became an iconic representation of the struggles faced by migrant workers during the Great Depression, raising awareness and potentially influencing policy and public perception.

Why was Florence Thompson's identity not known for decades after the photograph was taken?

Florence Thompson's identity was not immediately known because the government provided the photos for free, leading to widespread publication without proper identification, and her story was not fully documented until later.

What was the outcome for Florence Thompson and her family after the photograph was published?

Despite the photograph receiving widespread attention and resources being sent to Nipomo, Thompson and her family had already left the area, and they did not receive any direct assistance from the publicity.