Studs Terkel #3

Jane Yonder and Tom Yoder

Ms. Yonder describes her experiences with poverty as a young girl. The story focuses around when she got a new coat which she describes with great admiration. Her son also explains how his view on hunger and poverty is completely different than his mother’s despite being only one generation removed.  The simple coat that others thought was ugly represented someone very important to Jane. Warmth and food are taken for granted by most Americans today, just like Tom. Jane reminds us that only a short time period ago many Americans had almost nothing. This is significant because even today there are those with very little living all around us. While we might not talk to them or see them on a daily basis, she reminds us how lucky we truly are. “Oh, gee, you almost looked forward to the day you could throw up. I could remember dreaming about oranges and bananas, dreaming about them.” (128) When we go to a grocery store, there is so much food available to us. Jane’s story reminds us to value our lives and be grateful for everything we have. 

Peggy Terry and her mother, Mary Owsley

Peggy Terry and her mother share their feelings about the problems with the social system, as well as hunger, poverty, and economic inequality during the Depression. Mary’s husband, who is also Peggy’s father, suffered PTSD from World War I and the Depression made his life worse. Despite all the distress, the people of Oklahoma City banded together as a community and people shared food if they had enough for their own families. Terkel included this passage because he saw a story of community in a time of economic depression. Despite all the suffering, people looked out for each other, making sure neighbors and friends survived through this time period. Historically, such a story is often rare, as many had to learn how to survive on their own. The mother-daughter duo talked of their particular experience because they felt that people don’t appreciate what they are given. They offer the idea that life cannot be lived whilst thinking of money because every day can bring a new challenge.