Whoopi Goldberg | 10/08/2008 12:00 am

Whoopi Goldberg: 'The Great Depression Was the Great Equalizer'

In response to: Do your families have any stories of surviving the Great Depression and, if so, how did they influence you?

I’m from a black family; from the time we hit the shores of the United States there was a "depression." What I got from it was the Great Depression was the great equalizer. Nobody had anything tangible so what was tangible — respect, caring, etc. — these things were shared.

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“Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose. Nothin’ ain’t wort nothin’ - but it’s free.” Janice Joplin The general population is too obsessed with the acquisition of cash and prizes. I grew up poor - I’ve gone through feast and famine. I am every bit as happy with very little - because it is then that we learn what matters and what does not.

By Pamela Detlor on 10/08/2008 12:07 am

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As you know, Whoopie people do not care for respecting any person anymore, I do not know when it left, but I see it every day on “The View, If certain people had self-control, they would not try too push their beliefs on others, you are great, It is you that bring humor to the show, a lady with her feet on the grounded floor.

By Juanita Ward on 10/08/2008 12:12 am

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Whoopi, this is a great topic. It says a lot about the way those of us who read this column think. My family, on my mother’s side. came to the U.S. in the early teens of the 1900’s seeking asylum from the Russian overthrow of the Czar in 1918. They were somewhat wealthy Russians (they were theater singers and dancers) who turned into poor lower east side immigrants here in the U.S. with their names shortened and changed and who thought it was a good idea to assimilate by casting aside their Judaism for Christianity. It was better to them in their hearts to live this way than under Communism. Personally, (two generations later) I grew up in the low-end of the middle class with a Mom who knew how to make the system work for her daughter who aspired to get a higher education. She lived through the Great Depression as a child and saw, first hand, the effects of FDR’s New Deal. Though I remember government welfare through the Foodstamp program, MediCal, etc. my Mother never let me feel that we were “less than” anyone else. She always made sure that we lived near the best schools (even if we were in the “fringe apartments”) and let me know that I could be whatever I wanted because the government was there to help us. And in the 70’s and 80’s, that’s exactly what the government did. I was able to obtain an education at UC Berkeley due to winning Cal Grants A and B and through scholarships. That time is changing for our youth. There is no money left for education as we find in many state budgets. There is certainly not a dime left in the federal budget for education. The priorities of the past 8 years are war budget and now fixing the economic cesspool that bubbles under us. It will be a “depression” for many because job losses will continue and we are only at the brink of the worst, I feel. Something NEITHER candidate could admit to tonight because frankly, they are supposed to be the bringers of good will, pacification, and optimism. I feel that the big change in the global markets this week made a mockery of our $700 billion bail out. But…and I mean this most sincerely, BUT… will it affect ME today, tomorrow, next week. No. I don’t have money to lose on Wall Street. I don’t have a pension that will go down tomorrow due to whatever the financial officer has done with playing with my 401K at my company. I am not hit immediately by all of this. But I will be over time. The upbringing with Mom when we were poor has more than prepared me for this. I knew how to struggle economically before I learned to tie my shoe. CIrcular history coming around again. High five to you, Whoopi, and your awesome posts on WOWOWOW.

By Dana Jae on 10/08/2008 12:32 am

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I grew up in rural VT and everyone was poor and story goes that’s why The Depression up here was also a day in a life.

By Connie Godin on 10/08/2008 7:00 am

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My Grandma was my Mentor, I loved hearing her stories and I miss her dearly!We weren’t poor but we weren’t rich. My Mom grew up in the Depression and my Grandma would do without, do anything work for bupkis just to give her only child what ever her heart desired. So…Yeah that made an impression on me…I’m 1 of four children…we took care of each other…my mother was too spoiled…she only cared about herself…My grammy…now thats another story…she couldn’t help herself…she spoiled her cause she loved her so much…she didn’t know…in those days…she’d grow up to be a spoiled rotten grown up who thought the sun rose and set in her eyes!….Hence..the kids were f’d up….Now that I’m older I understand…I think the Depression made you realize what was important in life and what wasn’t!…and it wasn’t THINGS…it was lives…people…Yep…Even though I didn’t live through the depression…I understand and appreciate what people went through.

By Bernadette Rocks on 10/08/2008 8:36 am

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Respect, caring…nice to think these could surge out this financial crisis. There is life after wealth. And we all get to choose what kind of life ours will be.

By Ms. Dee on 10/08/2008 8:53 am

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Being from the south and one of the Dust Bowl states, my family survived the Great Depression as many others by working in the Civilian Conservation Corp. Some traveled to pick crops including cotton and tomatoes, some traveled to the silver mines and more prosperous regions. Thank god for Roosevelt was how my family wrote it. We have a few improvised family recipes as a result of hard times back then. Thanks to my grandmothers I know several ways to make Chicken and Dumplings (with or without chicken), and a very basic knowledge of growing my own food and animal husbandry;) We were farmers.

By S M on 10/08/2008 9:41 am

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I lost my Mom a year ago, I didn’t fully realize what an amazing woman she was until I didn’t have her. She was a woman with her feet flat on the ground, and knew what was important in life. She really knew that life was not about “things” it was family, and just spending time together, a meal together. Now that she is gone, I find that I am truly embracing the life she always wanted for her kids, now that she is not here, I hope I can carry on with our family what she really thought the meaning of life was.

By Donna Taylor on 10/08/2008 9:43 am

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I can’t get it out of my mind that Obama earmarked millions to Aidscare, an organization in Chicago. The founder and CEO of Aidscare is James V. Flosi. Flosi is a former catholic priest from Chicago who is a known child molester. It is my understanding the chuch has paid off his victim(s). The words respect and caring don’t fit in with Flosi and Obama giving him and Aidscare money. I’m sure Aidscare is tax exempt and Flosi lines his pockets with this money. There are thousands of aids organizations to earmark money to. Why one run by a child molester? I apologize for not staying on the subject.

By Frank Marks on 10/08/2008 11:29 am

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I cant get out of my mind how ALL the DENOMINATIONS have Molested and got away scott free …Mostly the Babtist and others never get caught up with the media ….isnt that strange ? And they MOLEST as Much if Not More than Catholics Priests …I know I live in the SOUTH …I cant get out of my head about MCCains pastor HAGEE …He was screaming and shouting to destroy Iran ….called them SATAN people …ya knwo what I mean ? When in Fact Hagee is SATANS son ….Because Iran …I know …I love Iran ….I am 1/2 Native Chickasaw and 1/2 POLISH …..and I am not brainwashed as you are by the Propaganda people …I Knew what the United Nations just did and I can document it ….. They went into Iran and found NO NUKES …None ,,,Nada …But the Media …the Propaganda people seem to leave that part out and so does Nazi Bush ….and Mcains Pastor Hagee …they real Nut …He wants to End the World and seems to forget that the Jewish people STOLE the Land from the Palestinians and put WOMEN and Little Kids into Prison …because they cried someone stole thier Houses …..and Now the Palestinians are starving to Death ….I dont see McCains Pastor or McCain or Nazi Bush sending HELP and Food for the Elderly and INFANTS who are dying …..just a few months back the Egyptians opened the Boarder and the Palestinians made a MAD DASH to get FOOD ……Why are these so called people Of GOD doing this to INFANTS and ELDERLY ??…I know why ….Jesus Christ told us all why ….if you had read and did your home-work you would know and wouldnt be saying what YOU are saying …..JESUS CHRIST told the Temple Priests …..> Your Father is Satan …..or they would know HIM …..Ya see the seeds of SATAN are in all Churches ….ALL CHURCHES …..Even right now in Jerusalem …..in GODS HOLY TEMPLE ….There are Gay Rabbis …have ya ever read about Sadom and Gomorah ? Then you would know …..I am Catholic ….and I have issues ….with the Church …also ….. Mine are not Molestation …Mine are> Why do we pray for Israel ? My JESUS would Never Oppress people or steal thier HOUSES and kick them to the street ….or put Children into Prison …for Protesting ….So I pray everyday for the Palestinian people with all my Heart …And I ask these QUESTIONS as JESUS said to do ??? and One that really bothers me >>>Who Is Melchizdek ?????Not even the Priest Knew !! And I was kicked out ….of Church during Mass …The Priest looked at me and I could see SATAN in his eyes ….I never went back to that church again …I guess I asked too many questions …I already knew who Melchizdek is …..Jesus Christ said to ask Questions …to know who they really are …The Jews Deny Jesus Chirst and the Muslims do not …Matter of fact they have a Whole entire chapter dedicated to MARY …The Mother of Jesus Christ ….and they say so …..I love Islam ! A is for Allah …I want to Thank the Nazi administration >>> I would of never knew about Islam and how Beautiful they are ….if it wasnt for Bush and Dick lying …60 pages of Laing WAR CRIMES …worse than anything Sadom ever did …..or could ever do ….I Pray to GOD that HE forgives me for voting for Bush the first time …I should of knwn better …to listen to the Propaganda people (Rechabites ) …..The second time I did not …I listened to The Late Great pope John Paul …when HE said BUSH IS ANTI-CHRIST ! And HE wished he was yunger so he could fight this ANTI-CHRIST ADMINISTRATION ….all Recorded in BOOKS …POPE JOHN PAUL BOOKS…..and the Pope said 107xs …107xs …because of BUSH these are the END of Days ….107xs ….I have more want some ? Matter of fact I stayed up to 2:30 am reading last night …I have so much more …to tell ya …chow !

By Eliza Dodd on 10/08/2008 3:00 pm

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Wow, and I thought this message board was about the Great Depression. Look at it this way, if Bush was the anti-christ we’re almost through…hmmm? Me personally I think we can all fit the bill for the AC with our hate and fear at one time or another in our lives. Peace to you, fear not.

By S M on 10/08/2008 3:15 pm

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Yeap Me to …that comment was for Mark up above me not you ….I had to get it off my chest ….these people are really unread and they talk and say DOO DOO ! just a smear junket …..if they want to talk NONE-SENSE I am all Mouth ….I cant help it I am part Chickasaw ….its in my blood to fight …..

By Eliza Dodd on 10/08/2008 3:22 pm

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Whoopi—well that is a different and interesting spin on the matter.True. I was fortunate enough to have my great grandparent until I was 19 years old so I grew up with all the stories. If I had to put it all into one word it would be ”fear” that was the long lasting effect it had on most Americans. My Great Grand Mother had an attic filled —5 rooms with boxes of dishes and towels/linens/comforter ect…..she always had that fear that they would have nothing again. We used all these items for 3 generations so it wasn’t a loss. My Great Grandfather told me he worked 12 hours a day for 50 cents on the railroad and considered himself lucky. He also kept a storage pile of wood in the basement behind a closed and locked wall so if anything happened again they would have wood for their stove. They were Polish-first generation from Poland—came over when they were teenagers never to see their families again. So in a way they came here shell shocked from what was going on in Europe.They witnessed their family member shot right in front of them—deep fear of both the Germans and the Russians that never went away for them. When they came to America—they were not wanted—spit on-and considered unemployable…………. They survived—not without those scars—just like Americans today—we will survive all this mess—some will be left with scars==some worse than others—lets hope it does change the mentality of me vs, you society—-and binds us all together as one people. Maybe Whoopi it is a Blessing??? Who knows?

By Lynn Marie on 10/08/2008 2:50 pm

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How profound…and inspiring to hear…I hope it does make us all appreciate each other a little more…WE ALL NEED IT! Well Said!

By Bernadette Rocks on 10/09/2008 12:13 pm

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The Sugar Bowl Incident > This was 1980 …..I went to stay with my Grandmother 95yrs old and my Aunt ….I went to the cup-board to get myself some sugar …I found the Fine China Bowl …with the sugar in it …I got a spoon out to scoop up some sugar for my coffee …HAHAHAHA!!! The spoon Bent ! It was as hard as a rock ! i told my Dad and my Dad asked them both about the sugar ….They were all talking POLISH and laughing at Me ! They Havent USED or Bought Sugar since the Great Depression ! That Sugar was there all those years in that little China Sugar Bowl! AMAZING !!!! to me …..

By Eliza Dodd on 10/08/2008 3:09 pm