I asked Google AI "Who was forced to stay on the levees with sheriffs and shotguns when?" and got this: "During the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, many African Americans were forced to remain on the levees and work under the supervision of armed guards, including sheriffs and the National Guard
. The primary reason for this was the desire of white plantation owners to prevent their sharecroppers from leaving the region and seeking opportunities elsewhere after the flood subsided.
Specifically
• Planters and local officials, with the cooperation of agencies like the Red Cross, orchestrated a system where African American laborers were compelled to stay in "refugee camps" established on or near the levees.
• National Guard troops and other armed personnel were used to prevent Black residents from leaving these camps or from evacuating altogether, essentially trapping them and ensuring a captive labor force for post-flood recovery.
• These individuals were forced to work, often without pay and under harsh conditions, to repair damaged levees and participate in cleanup efforts.
This practice highlighted the deep racial inequality prevalent at the time and further exacerbated the already difficult circumstances faced by African Americans in the South." I'm betting that this is what this song is about.
I figured that there must have been some deaths, since people weren't allowed to leave but "You know as well as I do, They ain't comin back, They're gone,l - it's all over here. So I asked how many died: "Sharecroppers, particularly African Americans, were disproportionately affected by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and many were forced to remain on levees, leading to deaths. While the official death toll was under 500, historians believe it was a significant undercount, and many deaths were likely among those forced to work on the levees. The flood exposed racial inequalities, with...
I figured that there must have been some deaths, since people weren't allowed to leave but "You know as well as I do, They ain't comin back, They're gone,l - it's all over here. So I asked how many died: "Sharecroppers, particularly African Americans, were disproportionately affected by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and many were forced to remain on levees, leading to deaths. While the official death toll was under 500, historians believe it was a significant undercount, and many deaths were likely among those forced to work on the levees. The flood exposed racial inequalities, with Black residents facing near-slavery conditions in levee work and suffering disproportionately from displacement and homelessness.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
e>Forced Labor:
Black sharecroppers were compelled to work on levees, often in dangerous conditions and without adequate resources, to try and contain the floodwaters.
Significant Displacement:
The flood displaced hundreds of thousands of people, with over half a million being African American, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Undercounted Deaths:
The official death toll of under 500 is widely considered to be a significant underestimate, with some estimates suggesting over 1,000 deaths in Mississippi alone.
Racial Disparities:
The flood exacerbated existing racial inequalities, with Black residents facing forced labor, displacement, and limited access to aid and relief."
I asked Google AI "Who was forced to stay on the levees with sheriffs and shotguns when?" and got this: "During the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, many African Americans were forced to remain on the levees and work under the supervision of armed guards, including sheriffs and the National Guard . The primary reason for this was the desire of white plantation owners to prevent their sharecroppers from leaving the region and seeking opportunities elsewhere after the flood subsided. Specifically • Planters and local officials, with the cooperation of agencies like the Red Cross, orchestrated a system where African American laborers were compelled to stay in "refugee camps" established on or near the levees. • National Guard troops and other armed personnel were used to prevent Black residents from leaving these camps or from evacuating altogether, essentially trapping them and ensuring a captive labor force for post-flood recovery. • These individuals were forced to work, often without pay and under harsh conditions, to repair damaged levees and participate in cleanup efforts. This practice highlighted the deep racial inequality prevalent at the time and further exacerbated the already difficult circumstances faced by African Americans in the South." I'm betting that this is what this song is about.
@Cherokeeridge
@Cherokeeridge
I figured that there must have been some deaths, since people weren't allowed to leave but "You know as well as I do, They ain't comin back, They're gone,l - it's all over here. So I asked how many died: "Sharecroppers, particularly African Americans, were disproportionately affected by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and many were forced to remain on levees, leading to deaths. While the official death toll was under 500, historians believe it was a significant undercount, and many deaths were likely among those forced to work on the levees. The flood exposed racial inequalities, with...
I figured that there must have been some deaths, since people weren't allowed to leave but "You know as well as I do, They ain't comin back, They're gone,l - it's all over here. So I asked how many died: "Sharecroppers, particularly African Americans, were disproportionately affected by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and many were forced to remain on levees, leading to deaths. While the official death toll was under 500, historians believe it was a significant undercount, and many deaths were likely among those forced to work on the levees. The flood exposed racial inequalities, with Black residents facing near-slavery conditions in levee work and suffering disproportionately from displacement and homelessness. Here's a more detailed breakdown:
e>
Forced Labor: Black sharecroppers were compelled to work on levees, often in dangerous conditions and without adequate resources, to try and contain the floodwaters.Significant Displacement: The flood displaced hundreds of thousands of people, with over half a million being African American, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Undercounted Deaths: The official death toll of under 500 is widely considered to be a significant underestimate, with some estimates suggesting over 1,000 deaths in Mississippi alone. Racial Disparities: The flood exacerbated existing racial inequalities, with Black residents facing forced labor, displacement, and limited access to aid and relief."