It all began with wheat.
During World War I, wheat was more than a cash crop.
Wheat was a weapon.
Wheat for bread,
Bread for armies,
Armies for victory.
Eager to do their part, American farmers tilled the soil with reckless speed.
Government propaganda encouraged the over-farming.
“Wheat is needed for the Allies!”
“Wheat will win the war!”
“Be patriotic!”
Soil turned into dust.
Dust turned into dust storms.
Families starved.
Entire ecosystems collapsed.
Lush prairies became barren deserts.
Children suffocated in dust storms or starved in their homes.
And even in the reckless waste of human life, the constant refrain of domestic propaganda continued:
“Waste nothing.”
The American Dust Bowl lasted from 1931-1939. Thousands died from malnutrition and exposure to dust clouds. Millions more were plunged into poverty and forced to leave their homes.
For more information on how to help modern families affected by drought and homelessness, please visit Charity: Water or Habitat for Humanity's website.
