Reply #8: I can tell you from bitter experience the first dust bowl was no

[Tom Joad]

picnic.

My whole family had to make the trip to california... and we lost a few of our kin on the way... and we were exploited, treateed real mean sometimes.
My experiences got me thinkin... well, it was the things Rev Casy was telling me... what if we were one big soul. So what happened to one of us happened to everyone. So when a baby is born, the whole community celebrates. Or when people are fighting for justice for themselves or struggling just to feed their families, it was everyone's struggle. I had to find these things out for myself. Had to become part of that soul. I told my Ma (couldn't stay with her... um.. legal problems) that "I'll be aroun' in the dark. I'll be everywhere-wherever you look. Wherever there is a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever there is a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there..."