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Perhaps anthropology?

Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 12:01 pm
by gunny
This is probably in the realm of anthropology, but interesting in todays world of people movement. "Rising Tide, The Great Mississippi Flood Of 1927 And How It Changed America" by John M. Barry. Unknown to most of us the deep south negros, for the most part, still lived in a plantation society unchanged by the civil war, or the outer world , since the 1700's. The education allotment per negro, in some counties, was as little as 75 cents per YEAR!. Along comes the great flood, and washes away their shacks on the plantation that had stood for 200 years. No work, no house, no food----they went north to settle in the cities. Millions of them. Interesting to contemplate our current society without this action of nature. An interesting read.

Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 1:14 pm
by Minimalist
Quickly followed by The Great Depression and World War II which also played hell with the social structure of the country but it sounds like an interesting premise.

I can remember going to visit my grandmothers in Brooklyn in the mid-1950s and the area was virtually all-white. Within 10 years that had all radically changed.

Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 1:19 pm
by Beagle
Kinda smacks of Sociology too. Man I hated Sociology. I haven't read the book, but it seems to fit with several threads going on right now that may have to do with natural disaster. Always has been & always will be.

Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 1:23 pm
by Minimalist
but it seems to fit with several threads going on right now that may have to do with natural disaster

Excellent point, Beagle. And while some people will wise-up and move after a disaster the majority STAY PUT and rebuild in the same goddamn place. And the government provides flood insurance to help them.

Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 1:33 pm
by Beagle
I'm retired now, but I once owned a health care business that started running in the red back in '86. I devised a plan, along with some employees - to declare our place of business a separate and sovereign state. And we would declare war on the United States. The intent of course, jokingly, was to get war reparations.

From "The Mouse That Roared"

Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 1:59 pm
by Minimalist
A very funny movie.