Entry C (Ch 16-19): Poetry

Poetry on Hatred

        The Californians hate the Okies and other migrants that are moving west from the region affected by the Dust Bowl and that are being driven out by industrial farming. The influx of migrants increases job competition and crowding of towns/cities. Resources are also used up more quickly. This poem is from the point-of-view of a Californian who is addressing an "Okie," expressing his discontent and hatred. This poem explains the motives for the hatred, as well as the sense of superiority that Californians feel over Okies.

Damn Okies

You come out west

from Oklahoma,

leavin' your lives behind

to start all over.

We don't care why you left, 

we just don't want you here,

taking our jobs and making our lives hard, 

you'd better steer clear.

California isn't big enough for all of us,

the depression is hitting us too,

we can barely survive where we are,

so you'd better keep on moving through.

You'll work for next-to-nothing

for a stale, old biscuit,

while we're looking for work too,

but instead we just get...

Laid off, since you'll work for less,

and now we're unemployed & stuck too,

in the same damn mess.

You see, you coming here,

isn't solving the problem.

Go back to Kansas,

and tell the other ones too.

California's for Californians,

Oklahoma's for Okies,

Don't come to my state,

Okie dokie?