Thinking about public works programs -- runs in our family

Eldri (b. 1935) and I (1934) were obviously Depression babies and, in due course, strong youthful admirers of FDR. We remain so -- though aware of the War-era civil liberties violations of his administration.  We continue to hold Eleanor Roosevelt in high esteem for her consistent human rights work.

So it's really natural that I'd think in terms of public works programs as highly desirable approaches.

My late father (1898-1978), was an extremely creative and all around excellent artist in a number of fine arts genre.  (He never had any high school -- but secured his BA from the Chicago Art Institute and two grad degrees from the University of Iowa.)  He always had a traditional Native attitude toward money -- it was meant to be quickly spent, as he saw it -- and he often gave his art works away to people he liked.  (Mother had to handle all the family finances and art exhibition details and such.)

I've seen some of Dad's Depression-era work.  On some of his many sketches, he managed to put in "WPA" -- Works Progress Administration, FDR's largest New Deal program.  That might be on a small roadside fence-post sign or on the side of a building.  Dad was obviously getting a WPA subsidy which he and Mother greatly appreciated.

His incorporating WPA occasionally into his work reminded me of the great Mexican muralist, Diego Rivera, who found creative ways of bringing Lenin and Big Bill Haywood into some of his Mexican Indian murals.

Artistic license -- very well utilized.

Hunter [Hunter Bear]


HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq /St. Francis 
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk 
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´ 
and Ohkwari' 
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO
www.hunterbear.org 
(much social justice material)

See Outlaw Trail: The Native as Organizer:
http://hunterbear.org/outlaw_trail1.htm
[Included in Visions & Voices: Native American Activism [2009]
(Much expanded with new material in 2012.)

And see the Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:
http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm
(Expanded and with more photos in June, 2012.)
 
For the new, just out (11/2011) and expanded/updated
edition of my "Organizer's Book," JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- 
with a new and substantial introduction by me.  We are now at 
the 50th Anniversary of the massive Jackson Movement of
1962-63. (This page expanded 9/12):  http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm

Witch Hunt: SCEF, FBI stuff, etc (with links):
http://www.hunterbear.org/witch_hunt_continuesthe_southern.htm