Federal Writers' Project – Life Histories/2020/Spring/Section33/Dr. S. S. Jackson

From Wikiversity
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Dr. S. S. Jackson
NationalityAmerican
Other namesDr. James
EducationKnox Institute, Minnesotan university (unknown name)
OccupationDentist
Spouse(s)Unknown woman (divorced)

Overview[edit | edit source]

Dr. S. S. Jackson, also known as Dr. James, was an African American dentist and business owner during the time of the Great Depression. James was an interviewee for the Federal Writer's Project in 1939.[1]

Biography[edit | edit source]

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Dr. James was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia. He considered himself to have had an average childhood, being just about like all the other boys. He attended school in his hometown at the Knox Institute. After finishing his high school education he decided to attend university, but found that his hometown did not offer what he was looking for. Dr. James moved to Minnesota to attend college and finished his dental courses there. [1]

Adult Life and Career[edit | edit source]

Children standing in line to see the dentist

After graduating from college, James went on to pass his dental examinations including the official State Board examination. James worked for a few years in Gainesville before moving to Macon, Georgia.[1] Dr. James came back to his hometown in 1936 and opened his own personal office. His patients consisted entirely of African Americans, who were very fond of Dr. James’ work as well as his demeanor. During the Great Depression, James understood the financial struggles of his clients, and he enacted a credit program for those in need of essential care but unable to afford it. James was married to a woman, whomst name is unknown, but the relationship ended in divorce. While he was married for some time, Dr. James never had any children, nor did he ever get remarried.[1] James’ death date and location are unknown.

Historical Context[edit | edit source]

Business Owners and the Great Depression[edit | edit source]

During the years of The Great Depression, no one was spared when it came to economic hardship and turmoil. Even the most established of businessmen and women experienced significant life changes. Business owners and entrepreneurs watched as their businesses and establishments fell apart and went bankrupt. The government saw how this impacted the economy, which was one of the many reasons why President Roosevelt enacted the New Deal. Despite the government launching multiple new pieces of legislation, many thought that the legislation was centered around moderately wealthy business owners and didn't go far enough in helping the poor.[2] This view was very common during the Great Depression as individuals saw the immense amount of wealth being accumulated by the upper echelon of the US population during the economic boom of the 1920’s, and they felt as if this population had an advantage.[2] In reality, most Americans did not profit at all from the Roaring Twenties, as many were infatuated with buying new products and services during this “era of unrestricted credit,” living well beyond their means. Due to so many Americans living an unaffordable lavish lifestyle in the twenties, when the economy crashed no one was able to pay off their debts, leaving businesses in bad conditions. These were only worsened by the continuation of the Great Depression when many Americans struggled to feed their families, surviving on a day to day basis. In fact, the Great Depression outlived support the government implemented, such as the New deal in 1939. 10 years after the stock market crash of 1929, there were still 9.4 million Americans unemployed.[3]

Racial Disparities During the 1930’s[edit | edit source]

Group of Railroad Workers, Locomotive 317, Texas and Pacific Railway Company

From 1929 to 1939 The Great Depression ravaged the entire world, pushing the United States into economic turmoil. During this time period, African Americans endured harsh racial disparities, especially in employment and economic standing. The invisible border between the southern and northern states amplified, causing white railroad workers to rally and adopt slogans such as “No jobs for n****** until every white man has a job” and “N****** back to the cotton fields.”[4] This rampant racism increased tensions all over the country and resulted in violent episodes, including times when “railroad brotherhoods intimidated, attacked and murdered black firemen in order to take their jobs.”[4] Even before the onset of The Great Depression, African Americans maintained a low economic and societal status, with most individuals working low paying, unskilled jobs. After its onset, many African Americans’ jobs were taken from them and given to white individuals. Data collected from this time period suggest that African American unemployment rates were double or triple that of white people.[5] Out of these harsh conditions, the theory of survivalist entrepreneurship for African Americans emerged. Plainly stated, due to the lack of employment available to African Americans from 1929 until 1939, many individuals turned to entrepreneurship in order to survive, creating small businesses in response to the need to find an independent means of livelihood and income. [6] It is also worth noting the effect the New Deal had on African American individuals during the time of The Great Depression. Jim Crow laws were still in effect, and the New Deal had many instances where African Americans were left out. Whites were able to choose their jobs first, and were consistently paid higher wages. In the few places where whites and blacks were both offered jobs, such as sleeper trains, blacks were always exclusively offered the worst jobs, whereas the higher paying, less laborious jobs were left for the whites.[7] While there were many downfalls to the New Deal through the eyes of African Americans, President Franklin Roosevelt did explicitly acknowledge the African American community by federally sponsoring cultural programs, which included members of all races.[2] These programs encouraged growth in the African American community through the influx of jobs that they created.


References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 McCune, Hall, Booth, interview.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sklaroff, Black Culture and the New Deal.
  3. ↑ Dickstein, "Poverty, Shame and Self-Reliance.”
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 McElvaine, Robert S, Encyclopedia of the Great Depression
  5. ↑ "The Great Depression." UNC University Libraries.
  6. ↑ Boyd, “Survivalist Entrepreneurship among Urban Blacks During the Great Depression.” 972-84.
  7. ↑ Klein, “Last Hired, First Fired.”
Retrieved from "https://en.wikiversity.org/w/index.php?title=Federal_Writers%27_Project_–_Life_Histories/2020/Spring/Section33/Dr._S._S._Jackson&oldid=2230298"