In 1938, a group of former sharecroppers stood on the brink of a new chapter in their lives. Displaced by economic hardships, mechanization, and the lingering effects of the Great Depression, these families were preparing to move to Southeast Missouri Farms in hopes of finding stability and a better future. Their journey reflected the struggles and resilience of many agricultural workers in the early 20th century.

The Hard Life of Sharecroppers

For decades, sharecropping had been a dominant system in the American South, particularly after the Civil War. Many poor farmers, both Black and white, worked on land owned by others, paying rent in the form of crops. However, this system often trapped families in a cycle of debt, as they relied on landowners for supplies and received little profit from their harvests.

Displacement and Migration

By the 1930s, technological advancements in farming and falling crop prices led to widespread displacement of sharecroppers. With fewer jobs and worsening conditions, many families were forced to leave their homes, searching for new opportunities elsewhere. Government programs, such as the Resettlement Administration, aimed to assist struggling farmers by relocating them to planned communities, including those in Southeast Missouri.

A Hope for a Better Future

As these former sharecroppers prepared to move, they carried with them a deep sense of uncertainty but also hope. The Southeast Missouri Farms project promised improved living conditions, better wages, and a chance to own land—something many had never dreamed possible. Though the road ahead remained challenging, their resilience and determination embodied the spirit of countless working-class Americans striving for a fresh start during one of the most difficult periods in U.S. history.