The Migration to the West

The Okies were farmers that were forced to travel west in the search of labor.  This movement of workers was similar to a very large migration.  The Okies were very poor, so on their travels west they had to struggle to survive.  They were dirty and owned nothing because they could only take what they could fit within their cars or trucks.  They begged to restaurant owners and gas station employees for free food, or they would barter their few possessions just to survive.  They would also help each other whenever possible.  This trek was a struggle for the Okies as it is a change to their lifestyle and, ultimately, the rest of their lives.

When the Okies migrated west, the most important part of their travel was their car.  It was the lifeline of the Okies and the only way to what they thought was a better life.  Many cars or trucks are about the same size as vehicles today, just without the modern conveniences, although during the travel west the car was used as the home, and most of the resources of the family went to gasoline or the repair to the car. The only thing more valued was food and water.  The car was the key to the migration west of the Okies. ( Okie - Wikipedia, the...)