Ali Loudiyi &

Adnane Zouikir
1
The term Okie originates
from the 1920s and
1930s.

The Great Depression and
the Dust Bowl forced a large
number of farmers to
migrate to the West in
search of job opportunities

Ben Reddick, an American
journalist, was the first to
use the term Okie in the
mid 1930s.
Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir 2
http://affordablehousinginstitute.org/blogs/us/wp-
content/uploads/okies_san_diego1.jpg
Literally, an Okie is a resident
or native of Oklahoma.

During the Dust Bowl and the
migration of Okies, the term
took on a negative meaning,
and applied to any migrant
farmer coming to California,
not just for Oklahomans.

The term then meant any
migrant farmer of very poor
means who came to California
is search of work.

It was the start of a stereotype
against farmers who went
West.
Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir 3
http://histclo.com/imagef/date/2009/10/elm36s.jpg
Okie became used as an
insult by Californians.

Angry with the huge
amounts of immigrants
who took their jobs and
overpopulated their
cities.

Although they had a
point, it was not fair to
stereotype and reject the
migrant farmers.

Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir 4

Many of them were
skilled workers and they
helped the economy of
California.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/P2bQu7Fw8ag/T7Vxq1xtuyI/A
AAAAAAAASw/JVeMR-Dczp8/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG

Paid very low wages.



Forced to live in slums
and tents.


Police formed a bum
blockade in Los Angeles
against incoming
migrant farmers.

Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir 5
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-california/JoblessMenKeepGoing.jpg
Harsh working conditions for
fear of union forming and
uprising for increased rights.
Chapter 18- A rude police officer warns the Joads get out of
the camp or they would be arrested.

When Ma Joad calls him out for it, he replies by saying that
Okies arent welcome in California and that Okies are
basically dirt.
Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir
6
http://www.rachaelreads.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/45651468_grapes466.jpg
At first, the Joads were
furious at being
discriminated against and
talked down to.

Then they felt some fear,
for they had seen how badly
certain Okies had been
treated

They realized that being
branded with that term was
almost a death sentence.
Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir 7
http://manhattaninfidel.com/wp-
content/uploads/2011/07/grapeswrath992.jpg
Terms like redneck or hillbilly to describe
country folk.

Terms like beaner or bean picker to
describe people of Central American descent.

Terms like redskin to describe Native
Americans.

Terms like negro to describe African
Americans.

Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir 8
Stereotypes have always been a major problem in
the modern world.

Racism, sexism, and all kinds of discrimination
are all spread by use of words and terms similar
to Okie

Terms like these are coined and used only to
intentionally make others feel bad, little, and
helpless.

They rarely reflect the truth and instead force
generalizations on otherwise innocent people.

Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir 9
One lesson the world has to learn today is to
be more accepting of others, especially
outsiders.
Back in the 1930s the world wasnt as
connected as it was today, and a large
migration of people to another place could
scare the locals.
In today's world however, we cant be as
hateful as most of the Californians back then.
Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir 10
Instead of being helpful and taking advantage of
their new situation, the Californians made it harder
on everyone to adjust and unnecessary problem
came out of it.

Moral: Be ACCEPTING of OTHERS
Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir 11
http://commonsenseatheism.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/hands-together.png
Information:
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/o/ok008.html
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/water_06.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okie#Novels
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs
Intro slide picture links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Okie_car_rear_view_1941.jpg
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/media/water0
601.jpg
http://2009greatdepressionbagwell.wikispaces.com/file/view/ppl.
jpg/101790541/448x350/ppl.jpg


Ali Loudiyi & Adnane Zouikir 12