Sharecroppers of the Great Depression

[@Nonniemaye]

I grew up poor, but everyone we knew grew up the same way. We never went to bed hungry and always had a roof over our heads. Thank you, Donnie, for keeping it real. God 🙏 bless.

[@cynthiaswearingen1037]

My granddaddy was a sharecropper farmer right through the 60s. He worked for some very good farmers and some very bad ones over the years, but they always had food. It was a tough life, for sure. Thanks for telling it like it was, Donnie. Anyone who didnt grow up with a hoe in their hand just wouldn't understand. God bless.🙏❤️

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you. Your very welcome.

[@kellilangley3875]

My family’s story: they may not have had a lot of money or material things, but they had family, faith and love for each other, something that we’re missing these days

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. God bless you. Thanks for sharing this. That's what's needed these days.

[@justdoshia]

Hi Donnie! My Mamaw (90 years old) loves your channel. She is losing her memory and when she hears you talk she gets filled with beautiful memories from her youth. It's a true blessing. She's a God fearing woman who worked hard up until a few years ago. She is a local celebrity who is known for her cooking, canning and fresh produce at the Laurel County farmers market. She took care of 4 children, 8 great grandchildren, and greatly enjoys her 10 great grandchildren. She sat by her husband of 50 years as he took his last breath. She has cared for countless members of the community and has been a faithful member of her church until she couldn't physically walk through the church doors anymore. Thank you for bringing her joy!

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW that's awesome my friend. God bless her. Thanks so much for sharing this. Tell her I said hello. That makes my day .Thank you.

[@apiecemaker1163]

Such a beautiful testimony of a beautiful soul. God bless her and your family.

[@brianheintz9912]

She had a life worth living

[@cyndirose9775]

Donnie, what an excellent way to tell the younger people how hard life was, the depression, how all races of people worked together, and were grateful for whatever they had and also for just a job to feed their family. You make me remember to be happy with what I have and know that I am blessed. Many people don't have anything and never will throughout their whole lives. God bless you❤🙏🙏❤️👩‍🦳🌺

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks so much for sharing this my friend. God bless you. Your very welcome.

[@deanbarr5740]

Cyndirose, your exactly right, we all have so much to be thankful for. Both my parent's lived through these times. Thank You Donnie Laws for sharing these hard times our elders endured.

[@greatmusicfan57]

Thanks again Mr. Donnie. All of us have it easy today. Poor people in the USA live better than 80 percent of the world. Partly because of these folks. God bless their souls.❤🙏🇺🇸

[@debroahisaacs2452]

Amen❤❤❤❤❤

[@ClaraBBrown]

I always enjoy listening to Donnie on how the people lived back many years ago, seeing some of the farms that some of our ancestors probably worked on to help feed their families maybe.

[@irishamerican4558]

7/22/23 Both my parents were born in the 1920s & grew up sharecropping. Two of the finest humans to ever walk this earth. My Mom is still here walking at 95 years of age. I've heard all the stories, so I know where this country came from. Thanks for making this video, there are a lot of people that need to see it & understand.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless her. Thank you.

[@Stephanie-kt9vh]

My Parents have both passed away. What I wouldn't give to have a chance to sit down and listen to the stories of their lives. Born and raised in the great Appalachian Mountains, the few stories I do know were so precious. My children are 11,5 and 3 and I have searched and searched looking for their history, our history to keep it alive for them. I just don't know exactly where to look. If your parents are still with you, take my advice, listen to their stories. Ask questions. Take notes. If you don't, One day you will wish you had and your heart will long to know. Long for the connection. Long to belong. Thank you Donny, for sharing these old stories. In many ways this is my heritage and somehow, this soothes my soul, fills my longing and dries some of my tears! You are a gift from the good Lord and I appreciate you and sharing the roots of many of us. Be blessed my friend.

[@donnielaws7020]

So sorry for your loss my friend. God bless you. Thanks so much for sharing your memories and story. Your very welcome.

[@alligatorhorse]

I never thought about the time that would come that I am one of the elders in my family. All the old folks are gone and it's up to us that remember their stories to do our best to norate them before they become lost forever. You do a fine job at doin' just that.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. Your very welcome. God bless you.

[@Tamkm817]

I have the wooden fold down table that my mammaw and pops received for their 1st wedding anniversary present from the land owner when they were sharecropers. My Grandma treasured that table as I will. Everyone in my family knows of the tables history. I put my hand on it and can almost feel my Grandmas love. This is an amazing and heart felt video. Thank you so kindly for all the love you put into it and I pray everyone loves it as much as I do. ❤

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.

[@brucemoore463]

I remember my Daddy and Mama talking about being raised in depression! Both of their Fathers were sharecroppers and the cash crops were cotton! My parents met when Mama’s family moved close where Daddy’s family was farming! WW2 came along and Daddy and his 3 brothers went to War . Mama wrote to Daddy during the War and when he came back they got married in 1946 ! These were tough people that didn’t let anything stop them! I miss my parents and this generation!

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing your memories and story with us. God bless you.

[@oldschool8292]

My G G-Pa Doc born 1884 was a share cropper for many years in MO & IA. He had a large family and a lot of mouths to feed so they all worked the farms. Many times they moved each year to get a better deal. I've heard the stories about droughts, grasshoppers, torrential rains etc. He taught all his kids about what was natural that was edible . One year they had wild onion soup more days than not. He even had to do WPA one year and that was very hard on his emotions. Then in the early 40's he won enough money gambling to buy a small farm, a wagon and 2 mules. Times were hard but they had one another and a great little community who worked together and helped one another. Those times are coming again but the majority of people aren't aware of it. This time it won't be temporary from mother nature, it will be intentional from the powers that be😔

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing your story and memories with us my friend. God bless you.

[@woodsghost9088]

Agreed with your future outlook. I think those with land will be doing the sharecropping thing again. In a way it happens already, but we call it "renting the land." But I suspect a more traditional model is going to be our future.

[@robertjamison8781]

Amen brother ! Get ready folks .

[@mojavebohemian814]

Thank you

[@Dr.J.Garlock]

I’m not a “prepper” or conspiracy theorist. I am, however, an American patriot & constitutionalist, thru & thru and given our nation’s current “leadership”, I’d strongly advise everyone who is responsible, physically capable, mentally competent and properly trained to patronize your local firearms dealer…

[@skyking4501]

Great story Donnie! My parents lived through the Great Depression. Both were hard working people and taught us the value of working for what we have and also taught us to thank the Lord, every day, for His Blessings.

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. They were wise people. God bless you. Thanks so much for sharing this my friend.

[@perijetton9275]

I love these look back videos. My great granddaddy had a farm in South Carolina. When those bad times came he went up to Detroit to work in the car factories and his sons worked the land. Our ancestors worked so hard to build this country and I appreciate you for representing and remembering them. God bless you Mr. Donnie

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. Your very welcome.

[@janaprocella8268]

Humble people

[@Matereater]

My maternal grandfather was a share cropper (tobacco and cotton)for many many years thanks for the video. Have a wonderful blessed day my friend

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. Your very welcome. God bless you.

[@rjd0724]

This is how our great country was built . We need this today , people working together . Thank you for bringing this back to remind us .

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome. God bless you.

[@denisehibbs9576]

Thanks for explaining sharecropping ! It was a difficult job. I knew a family of sharecroppers back in the 70 's. They worked hard . They were poor. I remember they would say " when the crop comes in i'm gonna get this and that." They ran a tab at the country store. It certainly was a different way of life ! You are right . I'm glad you are passing on these stories. Thank you Donnie !

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.

[@michaelbeams9553]

" They had each other , they survived . " ......... Six words that teach a very valuable lesson . Great storytelling . Thank you .

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome. God bless you.

[@bettyc.parker-young1437]

❤

[@maggiej253]

I absolutely love the way you honour the past and the people who had these really hard lives. You have the most wonderful voice and bring history to life. ❤

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you very much for sharing this my friend. God bless you.

[@nonnieprice5827]

A walk through the past , a time of hardship, just trying to make it from day to day . Earlier to rise to start your day , going to bed early so you could get up the next day and do it all over again. Like you said , everyone had a job or chores to do. Everyone depended on each other but most of all they depended on God to see them through. Thank you Donnie for keeping the ways of yesterday alive through your videos. May God bless.

[@donnielaws7020]

Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you. Your very welcome.

[@hazelarnold4332]

Thank you for sharing

[@baystateplugflipper7061]

Great video Donnie. My moms parents owned a dairy farm through that time and raised eight kids, I still remember going to that farm as a small boy. It had been in the family from 1789 till my grandpa sold it in 1966. God bless

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you friend for sharing this. God bless you.

[@hedgehog5001]

A real description of what hardship is all about. I wouldn't like to think I'd have to live through that today. What an example of tenacity to survive. There people are so strong and know the true meaning of working together for the good of all. Bless the folk of the Appalachian mountains.

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. Thanks so much for sharing this. God bless you.

[@robinunderwood7695]

MR. DONNIE U told that Story BEAUTIFULLY and very Sad at the same time....I couldn't imagine telling my children or grandchildren there was NO food today for that being said I'm very Thankful for all we have 💙

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you friend for sharing this. God bless you.

[@TheWabbit]

What a great story, these things just aren't taught anymore. Thank you for putting these type stories out for the younger generations to learn.

[@donnielaws7020]

So true my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome.

[@donnaallison7462]

Morning Donnie and thank you so much for sharing stories of our history! God bless you!

[@donnielaws7020]

Morning my friend. Your very welcome.

[@thomasbarrett8861]

My grandpa was born in 1928 in flatcreek south carolina. He worked as a sharecropper until 1960 when he took a cotton mill job and finally retired. He made dern sure that I could grow a garden. My pop taught me how to fish and hunt. I'm thankful for the hardships that they went thru. And I'm blessed beyond measure to have such solid men teachers and roll models in my life. Thank you donnie for telling it like it was... God bless

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories. God bless you.

[@CherokeeBird]

My grandparents were sharecroppers, raised cotton and 12 kids lol. ❤

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.

[@cwb0051]

Thank You, For Education in these Hard Times, We Now Have it Much Better, But Should Never Forget These Times, and these Hard Working Families...

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. God bless you. Your very welcome.

[@MsSharon]

This hits home for me. My paternal grandparents raised 9 children sharecropping. From Georgia to SC. Some time in the 50's my grandpa got a job with the railroad until he was old enough to retire. Then he worked for the city (city meaning less than 1200 people at the time), doing whatever was needed. All the children worked along with them until they were old enough to either join the military or get a job in the cotton mill. It was a hard life. Thank you for telling these stories!

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. Your very welcome. God bless you.

[@donnaregenauer2757]

Hello from KY love your channel ❤️.Donnie great lesson in history.And some people think going to do a grocery list is hard.!❤

[@donnielaws7020]

Hello friend. Thanks so much for sharing this. God bless you.

[@belindapearson9183]

Thank you Donnie for keeping the old ways alive

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend.

[@colleenhelminiak1429]

We could learn more than a few things from the life our forefathers had - hard work, family, pride in a job done right, and most of all, share love - there will never be enough love, especially in these times. Thanks again, Mr. Laws, for reminding us that there are still lessons to learn, if we only listen to what they have to say and the role models that they had. Might not have a lot of material things, but there sure was a lot of love and support there. 🤗💖💖💖

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. Thanks so much for sharing this. God bless you.

[@debby891]

Great piece of history, thanks for sharing❤. This generation is such an entitled generation, immediate gratification and no clue what it is to physically work hard, go without, be hungry and make do with what you have. I guess I’m just old but see this so often. It would do them good to see this, feel it and understand what those before them have gone through.

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. Thanks so much for sharing this. Your very welcome. God bless you. Thank you.

[@kennethboydsr3966]

Love your story’s . My mother grew up in Roanoke Va during the depression and she said that she would scrub floors all day at a hotel for a peace of salt pork one day and a little flour the next and was glad to get it to help feed the family. Thanks for a great story .❤

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.

[@stephenmayne4886]

Morning Donnie, thanks for sharing this great story of the past.

[@donnielaws7020]

Morning my friend. Your very welcome.

[@harriettemacy7399]

Good morning Donnie and everyone🌅🌿🌾🌄Another incredible video, your work is much appreciated!!

[@donnielaws7020]

Good morning my friend. Thank you so much.

[@harrygourley6443]

Thanks for another wonderful history video. I enjoyed it. My grandma was dirt poor until the day she went to be with the Good Lord but she was always happy.

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen! Your very welcome my friend. God bless you. Thanks for sharing this.

[@MichaelSmith-990]

Morning Donnie. Always love and I look forward to your next video.found out I have a blood clot in my leg yesterday. I could use your prayers my friend. God bless you.

[@donnielaws7020]

So sorry to hear that my friend. Your in my prayers. God bless you.

[@shaunnicholson-ul9xt]

All right my old son what agreat lesson people were harder back then hi to everyone in the US from co Durham UK ❤

[@donnielaws7020]

Thanks for sharing this my friend.

[@TennValleyGal]

Beautifully said, Donnie. Thank you for reminding us of our blessings.

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend. God bless you. Thank you.

[@rccarr6425]

That was excellently done. Such hard times, God bless our farmers🙏🏼Have a blessed day

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you friend. Them was some hard times. Thanks for sharing this.

[@mathbrown9099]

You’re describing my dad’s families’ livelihood. There was a breakup of my granddaddies’ household when a carnie took my dad’s mother away, she went willingly. Who wouldn’t want to leave the share cropper?? An absolute nightmare existence for my dad, his brother, and their sisters. Granddad’s grandkids have masters and above education, two of them school principals. Granddad suffered, dad suffered, so did we, but daddy put it in us to do better’n he did. Thanks dad, and Donnie, for this story.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.

[@charlesroberts6965]

Awesome bit of history sharing Donnie...this is the very fabric that built America..long before handouts and such..as the good book says " you will earn it by the sweat of your brow" and this generation knew that..today we have forgotten many of these traits..we are caught up in the trappings of bigger homes.. multiple cars and just stuff we all work so hard to keep..none of this truly makes us happy..gather your families closer share the precious moments together and make memories... that's the true treasures of life.😇🇺🇸🙏

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. God bless you. Thanks for sharing this.

[@debrawright62]

My Grandpa had a small 200 acre farm. He mostly grew tobacco and when it was time to harvest, he had sharecroppers. My father showed me the old house where they lived on the property. So interesting.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.

[@Minnehaha64]

Yes, it is a precious commodity! Thank you for keeping it alive!

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend.

[@burningsandsexploration3711]

My grandparents had a big farm/ranch on top of a mountain in West Virginia during the depression. They had 15 children and they worked that farm/ranch and didn't have a lot of money, but they ate good and provided food to some families less fortunate. Plus they provided food for some grocery stores. I spent summers on their farm and it is some of my best memories. You did an awesome job presenting this subject. Thank you!

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you. Your very welcome.

[@Houndini]

You got a other WV Guy. Some pretty land.

[@michaelgrey5105]

My grand parents were sharecroppers. We grew up in eastern Kentucky. They didn't have a penny in their pockets, but sure knew how to cook a good meal. I remember riding on the tractor and wagon when they would go to a little country store. Thanks for sharing this story.

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories. God bless you.

[@bethgiesey9405]

The stories you tell are fascinating to me. Hearing these old stories make me think of my parents & grandparents. They never went into much detail of the "old times". Thank you for sharing

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.

[@deefreeman5478]

This reminds me of my Dad’s side of the family…..thank you…❤

[@sandrataylor3723]

My grandfather was a sharecropper in Georgia during those times. He had 9 children. My mom would tell how she hated picking cotton. My grandfather still plowed a piece of land using an old white mule in the 60's. He would let me, and my brother ride the mule while he plowed the field. He moved toward the end of the 60's due to his health and gave up his plow. He missed it. All of my grandparents told of the hardships they went through during those times. My favorite story was one where my grandfather married my grandmother, and he had a blacksmith turn a silver dime into a wedding band. My grandmother was buried with that ring on. Great memories both good and bad. Thanks for bringing the story of sharecroppers to the public. I love history.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW that's awesome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing your memories and story with us my friend. God bless you. Thank you.

[@homesteadingpastor]

GREAT VIDEO Mr. Donnie! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I always love hearing about the past. My Grandaddy was born in 1921, and early in his life his father died & his older brother was killed, this left him at the young age of 13 years old to be the Man of the house & Breadwinner for his mom and the rest of his siblings. But by the grace of God and hard work they survived, he just died back in 2013 at 92 years old. I’m so glad I had him in my life long enough to teach me different skills and the value of hard work. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing your memories. God bless you. Your very welcome.

[@rotisseriebear5394]

Thanks for so many videos of recent history. These are stories that I grew up listening to from my grandparents of their experiences, and their parent's experiences. This oral history isn't told anymore for the most part. God Bless you, brother.

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you. Your very welcome.

[@carlosnogueira8816]

I could sit for hours, listening to you. God bless you Sir !

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you very much my friend.

[@brendamyers71]

Both sets of my grandparents were sharecroppers growing cotton in the Mississippi Delta since the Great Depression. They eventually owned their own farms. Out of all the children and grandchildren, only one, my brother , farms today. He has both farms planted in soybeans.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless them.

[@naelyneurkopfen9741]

My dad, born in 1925, was raised sharecropping. His father was born in 1889, his mother in 1892. I've heard many tales of hard work, dirt floors,biscuits and beans. He always said that they "were as happy as if they had good sense" and that they didn't know they were poor, because everyone around them was in the same boat. Then,as life was finally getting a bit better for them, along came WW2 and one by one all 3 of the boys were shipped overseas to fight. We were made of much stronger stuff back then, it seems.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing your memories my friend. God bless you.

[@neeceeboo777]

Thanks again Mr Donnie for another interesting bit of history. Love your stories. Lord bless brother.

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend. God bless you.

[@teresachavez.a2zen]

This brings back memories when I was real little sitting around a table listening to the older folks tell tales of their lives on the farms in Iowa, Nebraska and S. Dakota. Someone always handing us girls something to peel, shuck, snap, anything to keep our hands busy so they could keep an eye on us. lol They were canning for other people and got some of the finished product in lieu of pay. The best days were jams, jellies, and marmalade. We got to be taste testers. Quite a bit of bartering going on for food stuffs. They were talented resourceful folks, but that's what hard times teach us. Thanks for the memories. It's amazing anyone survived!

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks so much for sharing your memories my friend. God bless you.

[@kelliejimenez2125]

Great story. I love how everyone worked together! Thank you. I hope you and your wife have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you friend. God bless you. Your very welcome.

[@anthonybatulis6516]

Just another one of your awesome videos. I just can't comprehend how hard my parents and grandparents worked and they did this everyday sunup to sundown.

[@donnielaws7020]

Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless them.

[@debroahisaacs2452]

Hi Mr Donnie.....I am old now but I so have memories of my grandparents. My Pop behind a plow, a mule pulling it. Mammaw doing laundry on a washboard .....but I was so happy.....I never thought I was poor....oh how I miss those days😢😢😢. The mountain people made it through the depression better than most...

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing your memories my friend. God bless you.

[@suburbanhillbilly2999]

Thank you for keeping this history alive.

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend.

[@stacey8501]

That was a beautiful tribute to those who came before us. The hardships they endured we could scarce imagine today. Well done!

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you friend for sharing this. God bless you. Thank you.

[@reneenelsen7416]

Thank you for doing what you do and doing it so well and sharing your content. Sending virtual Granny hug's and prayers to everyone ☺️

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend. God bless you.

[@sydneyalisonbaker]

I’ve been told by my dad that our family (mostly Irish), were mainly sharecroppers and fur traders after the Civil War. He heard stories from his grands and great grands. It was a hard life in the south for everyone! They didn’t have much choice. You ate what you either grew or caught, sold what you could, and prayed to survive.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.

[@arevavaful]

Thanks, Donnie, Super interesting video... Boy those folks were tough, including the children. I bet none of them barely ever complained. It brought tears to my eyes at times... Amazing American history... God bless you and yours, have a great weekend, too.😊💕

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing this. God bless you.

[@danatinney8743]

Thank you for sharing this part of history with all of us. When we engage conversation with those who faced these conditions, they will share their stories. Great video to remind us of past days.

[@donnielaws7020]

Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.

[@davids6533]

My Grandparents were sharecroppers and even though I've heard their stories so often I could probably tell some of them as good as they could. I really miss hearing them and how life changed when they got their own place and their own tractor and how happy they were when they paid it all off early and could start putting a few dollars in the bank for hard times that surely comes to everybody sooner or later. They worked very hard for what they had and as far as I know, except for sickness at the time of their death, they died happy. I'm grateful that I came along in time to help out with the hay and in the gardens when I could. I really miss them and getting to share their way of life for as long as I did. They taught me a lot. Mostly how to live and how to love. : )

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks so much for sharing your story and memories with us my friend. God bless you.

[@johnbubbajohnson5630]

Thank you for sharing. Times were hard back then. God bless you and your family..🙏❤🙏❤🙏

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend. God bless you.

[@MarkWYoung-ky4uc]

Great video Donnie. I thank God for all the time I spent talking with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and all the older people in my life. I learned much from them and they were a treasure trove of knowledge.

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. God bless you. Thanks for sharing this.

[@tinacurtis1580]

Both my grandfathers were sharecroppers. My dad had 10 siblings and his father worked tobacco, they lived mostly in shacks. My dad is 90. My mother's father grew tobacco, corn, raised cattle and hogs and had a huge personal garden. Mom had one sibling. They lived in a much nicer home with a well pump next to the kitchen. Dad had to go to the creek to get water. You are right about sharecropping, some were better than others. My mom's dad was gifted land from the owner where he built a beautiful home.

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.

[@dougney3026]

Hello from Virginia my friend. The Best Channel on U Tube 👍 Watching your Channel 👍

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.

[@MrIslandman59]

That was a great history reminder. When we traveled the back roads of Georgia going to see relatives in Jacksonville Fl back in the 50's and 60's you didn't travel too many miles without seeing rows of sharecropper cabins and I always looked at those thinking what a hard life that must have been!

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.

[@lizkunkel6751]

Donnie this was an excellent telling of our Nation's history. I always wondered what it meant to share crop and now I know. Through your knowledge and memories of your own family history, I learn a lot and I remember a lot of my own family's history. Thank you for sharing these videos. I truly enjoy them. God Bless you and I hope you have a great weekend. I can't wait for the next episode of "As the Ridge Turns"🙏🙏🙏😇

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thanks so much for sharing this. God bless you. Your very welcome.

[@russellzigler2180]

Thank you so much for your videos, i enjoy them and appreciate them.

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend. Thank you.

[@UncleSasquatchOutdoors]

Great video! Those people were the backbone of our country for a lot of years. And you are absolutely correct about losing the wisdom of our elders and times gone by.

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you friend. It breaks my heart to lose them. God bless you. Thanks for sharing this.

[@pearliesaddler9638]

Good morning 🌄 I really look forward to your stories. Blessings and keep them coming!

[@donnielaws7020]

Good morning my friend. Thank you so much. God bless you.

[@CaroleLeamer735]

Thank you for sharing this Mr Donnie ❤ We all come from very strong stock! God bless you and your family ❤

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend. God bless you.

[@charleswhite-wf5ez]

Thank you for the hard work and dedication to preserving history. Your stories come from the heart, not some boring facts downloaded from the internet. We the younger generations have lost access to so much wisdom and knowledge that those who lived during that time could provide. When you speak I do not hear a stranger talking, I am hearing my pawpaw speaking to me about life lessons. He had a very hard life as his father died from Influenza a few months before he was born. Pawpaw was a share cropper (cotton, soy and peanuts) in the very southern part of Alabama until he was into his late 60’s. When the depression hit he was not only supporting his young family (mawmaw, mom and 3 sons) but also his mother, half brother and half sister. I am not sure when he switched from mules to a tractor, probably in the mid to late 50’s as I have a picture of my oldest brother (born 1948) as a toddler sitting on one of his mules. Looking forward to your next video.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks so much for sharing your story with us my friend. God bless you. Thank you.

[@angelawheeler7825]

Thank you so much for this wonderful video, you are a true blessing.😊😊

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend.

[@jeremiahgroves3708]

Buying local is the way to go this videos are so important thank for sharing this world would be so much better if we all worked together again it makes us appreciate one another 👍👍🙏🏻

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.

[@JaredKingTV]

Another MIGHTY GOOD'N Donnie!! You're right, them ole mules and fields didn't care what color a person was. Lord I didn't know I was poor till I started school cause that's just how things was. Thank you so much for this'n. God bless you my awesome mountain brother!!

[@donnielaws7020]

So true my brother. Thanks so much for sharing this. God bless you.

[@victoriareed5043]

Mr. Donnie I remember my family in the country share cropping in the early 60's,the older kids helped work. Hard times but sometimes I wish I was still back there,blessed day Sir,good memory

[@donnielaws7020]

Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.

[@waltersteffensthezr2man431]

Very enlightening this is exactly how my grandparents lived I didn't come around till the the 70s but I'm grateful I grew up on a farm! Thank you Donnie for another great video!

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thanks for sharing this. Your very welcome.

[@marybufordAUTHOR]

Amazing video!! Thanks Donnie! We could all learn a lot from the old ways. I enjoy the stories of our elders. Respect is necessary to learn from them. You told this story well.

[@donnielaws7020]

Amen my friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.

[@abbynewman3411]

Another wonderful video Mr. Donnie. This is the story of my grandparents. I was born and raised in Louisiana, and this was so familiar to the stories my grandma told me. Thanks, God bless and have a wonderful day!

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thank you so much. Your very welcome. God bless you.

[@donnaml8776]

I believe my father was apart of this history. He was born 1918 in Texas. Unfortunately, his father died by the time he was 2 years old. I believe his mother remarried, but by the time my father was 9 years old his mother had also died and he went to live with his mother’s mother. They lived in Colorado, not sure what they did, but I think it was sharecropping. By the time my father was 17, World War II had started so he lied about his age and went into the army. After this he soon met my mother, and well the rest is history. One thing about my father he could grow anything. He had a green thumb as they say. And he had such a way with animals.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks so much for sharing your story and memories with us my friend. God bless you. Thank you.

[@bettyfeliciano7322]

What a beautiful story of history gone by. My parents first place was a little old wooden shack with a dirt floor & hardly anything else. Mom said they didn’t have a yard, they just had dirt. But she swept it all. Daddy got empty wood crates & nailed them on the wall for cupboards. Mom picked cotton with all colors and kinds of people. This was way before I grew up. Thank you Mr Laws for memories of good & bad times. Blessings always! ❤️✝️

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you. It was a hard life for sure.

[@bettyfeliciano7322]

@@donnielaws7020 Yout welcome! Yes those who went through those hard times all had true grit! ❤️✝️

[@deborahkimball-billups6405]

Money Money money Is what most people care about . To me its the least important thing ❤ your videos are priceless to me Thank again for your time handsome

[@w96725]

Thank you so much for sharing the history of these hardworking sacrificial people

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend.

[@drtom5936]

Another great story of history. You do such a wonderful job. Thank you.

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you friend. Your very welcome.

[@jacquelinemiller8383]

Great video Donnie. My Granny shared her life during the Depression with me many times. Those were hard times.

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you friend. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you.

[@billybrown1979]

my grandpa was a sharecropper and help him on the crops to in the 60's and 70's. it was work from daylight to dark. be bless and love. SAVANNAH TN.

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend. God bless you.

[@roberthand6436]

Donnie, you sure rang some bells for this old Tennessee redneck! My folks share-cropped in the early 1950's, raising tobacco. It was a hard life, for sure, but my daddy always saw to it that we had food in our bellies, a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and lots of love. ❤ I have to tell you a story about the man we worked for. He was an inventor, held a degree from Yale University, and had an IQ of over 160, but , as my daddy often said, "didn't have enough common sense to pour pee out of a boot". He was living in New York when his childless uncle died, and as the only living male relative, he inherited the old man's farm, a former plantation that had been in the family for well over 100 years (My daddy and I actually found the old slave cemetery, buried under brush and saplings, when we were clearing new ground to make a tobacco seedbed. Daddy cleaned it up and kept it clean all the while we lived there. He felt everyone deserved respect. ❤) Mr. Bob and his wife came down to look the place over, decided that they would move there, and went back to New York to tie up their business there, which took a month. His uncle had two mules, and Mr. Bob put them in the stable and left them there. Those two poor mules literally chewed and kicked their way through the stable walls, only to die from thirst and starvation outside the stable.💔 This "brilliant" man thought that, since they weren't working, they wouldn't have to eat and drink? When he told one of his nearby cousins that, after it happened, his cousin asked him if he had to eat and drink when he wasn't working. His reply was "Oh"! That stable stood when we were there, and you could see the bite marks and hoofprints on the boards around the hole they'd made too late. It always made me so sad to see those. 💔 Thank you, Donnie, for all you share! Your stories and videos really touch the heart of this old country boy, and I so look forward to each new one! G-d bless you and yours, my dear brother!❤

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing your memories with us my friend. That's awesome. God bless you. Thank you.

[@teresaadams825]

Sad

[@ScotchIrishHoundsman]

Meemaw’s daddy was a Texas sharecropper when she was growing up in the 50’s and 60’s. He’d hire out a black family and the two families both worked the cotton; white and black. Though, they didn’t work side by side. Segregation was still alive and well in those days. My Meemaw told me that she and her 8 siblings weren’t allowed to intermingle with the black folks, but she always loved to see them singing and dancing while working. She’d get in trouble trying to copy them, because baptists did NOT dance in those days! But she loved to dance, and that’s how she learned, watching the black field hands while she was in the field picking cotton for her daddy.

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. That's awesome. Thanks for sharing this story and your memories. God bless you.

[@ericwitt4586]

When my mommas family came over from Germany in the late 40s they were sharecroppers on a big farm in the coosa river basin I live where it starts and I heard all of the stories about how it got started they worked hard and they had a good life here in GA

[@donnielaws7020]

WOW Thanks for sharing this my friend.

[@ericwitt4586]

Thanks buddy she’s gone now and I miss her so much Donnie but I’m on the right track bud she would be happy

[@donnagrote4907]

Thank you so much for showing us where we have been and how far we have come. Your videos are so interesting and inspiring. ❤

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend. God bless you.

[@keithsadler5260]

Another great story Mr. Donnie. Very tough times for sure.

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you friend. God bless you.

[@manwithplan20]

Good Morning Donnie Laws, Once again you knocked it out of the park, very interesting subject and alot of info from our usa history Thank you for your time and dedication to sharing our American history God bless you and yours stay safe have a good day

[@donnielaws7020]

Good morning my friend. Glad you enjoyed it. God bless you. Thank you.

[@cpierce1947]

Well presented, Donnie; you are so appreciated. This is something I can share with my grandchildren.

[@donnielaws7020]

Awesome my friend. Thank you. God bless you.

[@bethmichaud3209]

This video is something the folks of that time never imagined ! I feel glad for having them honored here today in photos and story telling. Adding prayer power🙏📖, into Donnie's recovery, in Jesus Name💛

[@leostgeorge2080]

I am amazed at the resilience of human life. No all life. What is endured and to persevere. Just amazes me. looking at what we have become our ancestors would be so ashamed of us. In just 100 years we are unable to go on without internet. Pitiful what we have become.

[@donnielaws7020]

Thank you friend for sharing this.

[@accousticdecay]

Excellent video. Thanks for posting, Donnie.

[@donnielaws7020]

Your very welcome my friend. Thank you.