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10-23-2011, 09:51 PM

#181

Kas

Super Member

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Renton, WA

Posts: 2,045

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmcclure

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kas

I can smell the defoliater from here. Grew up in Alabama. Never picked it, but have pulled it out of the boll.

Where I grew up, "pulling" was grabbing the whole boll and putting it in the sack. "Picking" was pulling the cotton from the boll (and stabbing your fingers with the boll points).

I remember my daddy plowing with a couple of mules and my having to "pick" the cotton. I still have some scars on my fingers that I attibute to the cotton bolls.

Mine was the whole boll and I guess I Picked the cotton out of it! It was just one boll and I was curious about how it worked. It was still in there a bit and I remember the wavyness on the sides before it fluffed.

10-23-2011, 10:01 PM

#182

Gerbie

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Some where in way out West Texas

Posts: 3,041

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsEithne

Quote:

Originally Posted by JanTx

Anyone else use "Cotton picking" as a negative comment? "That cotton picking dog got into the trash again!" I grew up with this and never thought about how strange that is until I was reading this thread! :)

It's a class/status insult; someone so poor they had to pick cotton was regarded with disdain, particularly if a person of colour or a migrant worker.

That being said, so is the phrase "Oil Field Trash" as are so many other class status insults which could refer to many types of working people. I was born and raised here in Texas in the oil field area, with my dad working in the oil field and he always made a good living for his family. I never did then nor do I now consider myself or my family or any of the people who worked or are still working in the oil field as "trash". But I guess that the people who lived in large cities and worked in offices and didn't really get "dirty", must have thought that they were above any of us or a little better I guess would be another way of putting it. I was always raised and taught that if anyone worked and made an Honest day's wages, no matter what type of work it was or is, they should never be put down in any way. So many people take so much for granted and never think of where things actually come from or the workers who perform the work and how difficult it is for various products to be produced. O.K. off my soap box for now, not indending to offend anyone, but I felt that this just had to be said. We should never verbally abuse or be little someone because of the type of job that they have or perform. Those who are able to work are doing so to make a living for themselves and their families. I really feel so sorry for all of the people who are out of work at this time and who are not able to get a job, prayers that thngs will soon turn around for all of them.

10-23-2011, 10:35 PM

#183

rona thickpenny

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: peterborough u k

Posts: 1,328

Very interesting , Thankyou .

10-24-2011, 02:08 AM

#184

MissJMac

Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: North Kansas City, MO

Posts: 561

My 3rd-greatgrandfather told me stories of picking cotton as a child too. He was a slave in Alabama and he had no fond memories of his experience. Trying to load his bag to increase payment was not an option, he was not paid. If he had tried do anything to ease his workload, he would have been beaten or hung.
Just another view of our beloved cotton.