Cotton

In this episode, host Bennye invites her daughter, Keisha, to discuss Bennye’s childhood experiences working in the cotton fields of DeKalb, Texas.  Born into a large family, Bennye recounts her work in cotton fields from the time she was a tween through her high school graduation.  She describes what their days were like:  the four o'clock wake-up time with the preparation of meals from scratch followed by long hours spent chopping and picking cotton until six in the evening. Despite this challenging work,  Bennye reflects on the importance of speaking the memories of these experiences out loud for future generations, emphasizing the sense of community and togetherness that helped them maintain not only survive, but thrive in challenging, yet loving, circumstances. 


00:48 The Story Behind the Cotton Cover
01:11 Early Life and Childhood Memories
02:48 Growing Up in DeKalb, Texas
03:59 The Hardships of Cotton Chopping
10:01 The Intricacies of Cotton Picking
11:43 A Day in the Life of a Cotton Picker
14:31 High School and Early Work Experiences
14:58 Family Struggles and the Need to Work
16:16 Self-Sufficiency and the Perception of Poverty
18:50 Childhood Memories and Community Bonds
22:28 The Reality of Child Labor in Cotton Fields
22:49 The Process of Cotton Picking and Its Challenges
26:45 Life as Migrant Workers and Family Dynamics
29:08 Reflections on the Past and the Importance of Sharing Stories