Part V (1932-1933) - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

It's now 1932 and these are hard times during the Depression. A young Alex Haley is living with his parents Bertha and Simon and his grandparents. Simon is frustrated working at the lumberyard but with a Master's degree in agriculture, ...See moreIt's now 1932 and these are hard times during the Depression. A young Alex Haley is living with his parents Bertha and Simon and his grandparents. Simon is frustrated working at the lumberyard but with a Master's degree in agriculture, dreams of breaking free and teaching. Will has little interest in modernizing the operation but good news for Simon comes with a job offer as a college professor at Alabama A & M. He's embarrassed at the things that the school's president, Dr. Horace Huguley, has to do to please possible donors. In addition to his teaching duties, Simon tries to meet black farmers in the county to help improve their crop yield. Simon finds it difficult to help them as most don't own the land they farm. He meets Lyle Pettijohn the County Agricultural agent who is supportive of Simon's scientific approach to improving farming methods but also realizes the challenges both of them face in having to deal with the landowners. Petttijohn pays the price for supporting Simon's ideas. As for Alex, he learns of his family history from his Grandpa Will and traveling with his father, sees first hand the poverty in which black sharecroppers and farm hands live and work. Written by garykmcd See less