African American Migrant Workers, Homestead Florida, 1939

Migrant workers waiting to get paid sitting on the back of a truck. Taken in 1939, Homestead, Florida.

The history of African American migrant workers in Homestead, Florida during the 1930s is a story of both struggle and determination. During the Great Depression, many African Americans left the rural South in search of better economic opportunities, and many ended up in Homestead, a small town near Miami that had a booming agricultural industry.

In Homestead, African American migrant workers found employment in the area's many vegetable and fruit farms, where they worked long hours picking crops and living in labor camps provided by the growers. Despite the hard work and harsh living conditions, African American migrant workers in Homestead and throughout Florida played a vital role in the state's agriculture industry, helping to harvest the crops that fed the nation and the world.

Despite their important role in the local economy, African American migrant workers in Homestead faced many challenges, including low wages, substandard living conditions, and widespread discrimination. Despite these obstacles, the African American migrant workers in Homestead and throughout Florida were determined to succeed, and they worked together to build strong communities and support networks.

African American migrant workers in Homestead also played an important role in the broader civil rights movement, and many were active in local organizations that fought for better working conditions, fair wages, and equal treatment. Through their hard work and activism, African American migrant workers in Homestead helped to pave the way for future generations and set an example of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.