What happened this week in 1935? The "Black Sunday" dust storms hit the Midwest.
The economic turmoil of the Great Depression was exacerbated by hundreds of dust storms pounding the Midwest throughout the 1930s. Drought and over-farming had depleted 100 million acres across the Great Plains. Once the "bread basket" of America, this previously fertile land became a "Dust Bowl." Unanchored topsoil was swept up into massive storms over and over again.
On April 14, 1935, also known as "Black Sunday," twenty of the "black blizzards" occurred throughout the Dust Bowl at once, turning the day to night. By early afternoon, many of the areas affected were in total darkness; people could not see even five feet in front of them. Eventually, unable to farm or find other work at home, over 400,000 people left the Midwest to travel the country as migrant workers.
On April 14, 1935, also known as "Black Sunday," twenty of the "black blizzards" occurred throughout the Dust Bowl at once, turning the day to night. By early afternoon, many of the areas affected were in total darkness; people could not see even five feet in front of them. Eventually, unable to farm or find other work at home, over 400,000 people left the Midwest to travel the country as migrant workers.