The New Deal was a set of projects introduced in the United States in response to the challenges many people encountered during the Great Depression. This paper analyzes how the historical events experienced in the US from 1932-1940 relate to the “Dust Bowl Ballads” album by Woody Guthrie. The discussion goes further to describe how the singer manages to engage with the events and processes of the period.
The New Deal and Dust Bowl Ballads: The Connection
The New Deal denotes several policies and programs enacted by Franklin Roosevelt between 1933 and 1936 to respond to the challenges of the Great Depression. The three pillars of such projects included relief for the poor and the jobless, economic recovery, and reformation of the United States’ financial system (Hayes, 2016). During the period, the Southern Plains region recorded massive dust storms. This drought-stricken region was later given the name, “The Dust Bowl”. The dry winds led to the death of both livestock and people. The failure of crops drove many individuals from the region and forced them to search for better living conditions. This means that the New Deal was a response to such challenges.
After witnessing the events and challenges that many people encountered in the 1930s during the Dust Bowl period, Woody Guthrie decided to engage in social activism through the use of music. This approach is what led to the release of the album, “Dust Bowl Ballads” in 1940. Swensen (2015) defines “social activism” is any effort different people undertake to promote positive economic, political, or social changes in the society. Through the use of music, Woody Guthrie managed to pass across his messages to persuade all listeners and those in power to address the issues many people faced.
In this album, the artist chronicled the infamous events associated with the Dust Bowl using a prosaic style. Using a guitar and excellent vocals, Guthrie documented the exodus of immigrants from Midwest in search of better opportunities in California. Throughout this journey, Guthrie and his colleagues encountered harsh experiences that affected their goals in life, including murder, slavery, and theft. What stands out from the music is the will of all those who persevered and fought all forms of oppression (Swensen, 2015). This would later become the true spirit of America.
From this analysis, it is evident that there is a significant connection between the New Deal (1932-1940) and Guthrie’s Dust Bowl Ballads (1940). The album featured the experiences, pains, challenges, and troubles many immigrants encountered during the Dust Bowl period. The songs describe the hardships many Americans from the troubled regions encountered (Hayes, 2016). As one of the victims, Guthrie would eventually use the power of music to compel the government to implement evidence-based solutions to address the needs of more citizens. The New Deal programs put in place by Roosevelt towards managed to address the causes of this infamous drought and its aftermath. This means that superior projects than the ones associated with the New Deal would deliver positive results.
Conclusion
The above analysis has revealed that many American people encountered numerous predicaments during the Dust Bowl period. As one of the victims, Woody Guthrie would later use music to pursue his social activism agenda and encourage the government to address such problems. The studied album was, therefore, a response to both the New Deal programs and the issues associated with the Dust Bowl.
References
Hayes, N. (2016). Woody Guthrie and the Dust Bowl Ballads. New York, NY: Abrams Books.
Swensen, J. R. (2015). Picturing migrants: The grapes of wrath and New Deal documentary photography. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.