Hard Times in the Great Depression

After reading the stories of the Yoder and Terry families, I feel very fortunate. During the great depression, whites lost so much money that they sunk to a black family's status. This was a big jump for white families because they always felt superior, but now that had something in common; they were poor. Living in the depression caused much suffering. In "Peggy Terry and her mother, Mary Owsley," I read that there were people who lived in holes in the ground. This really frightened and shocked me. How could someone truly dig a hole that deep and actually live in it? People could barely feed themselves and many moved around to not feel the depression. However, all the hardships people went through during the depression made them stronger. Whites learned to accept blacks for who they were, because they shared a common struggle. In the depression people were also very generous. I read how several people took in Peggy Terry and fed her when she was pregnant. What shocked me the most was that most were not ashamed of themselves and their social standing; they accepted themselves and found that helping each other only brought friends and family closer together, for they were trying to overcome the same struggle. I feel as if I can learn from these stories and to never be ashamed, but proud of how far my family has come. My grandpa immigrated to the U.S. from Greece with barely any money and raised four children who were very successful. My family has come a long way, and even though the nation is going through a recession, I believe that my family will be able to stay strong and find pride in how hard we have worked. Money can not buy my happiness.