Young African American Picking Cotton, October 1935

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, Shahn, Ben, "Young cotton picker, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Schools for colored children do not open until January 1st so as not to interfere with cotton picking," October 1935

Description

Children were sharecroppers. Many did not go to school, and others that did could only attend after the picking season was over. If they were able to go to school, it was to segregated schools with few supplies and poor conditions. Many times, schools specifically for African-American children would not open until January 1. This photograph shows a young cotton picker from Pulaski County in Arkansas. 

Source-Dependent Questions

• Look closely at the photo. What do you notice about the young people picking cotton?
• Why would January be the month that some sharecropping children were able to go to school?

Citation Information 

Shahn, Ben, "Young cotton picker, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Schools for colored children do not open until January 1st so as not to interfere with cotton picking," October 1935. Courtesy of Library of Congress