The Grapes of Wrath – 75 Years Later

By: Ebonye Gussine Wilkins

One of my favorite novels is The Grapes of Wrath, which has reached its 75th anniversary today. I’ve always thought it was a timeless time, which not only highlights poverty, but the struggles of labor organization. I’ve even compared it to the labor issues going on in Silicon Valley, noting the parallels and how often we ignore history, and how it tends to repeat itself.

Well, NPR did a wonderful job of examining this just in time for the anniversary. I encourage you to read this article (and The Grapes of Wrath if you haven’t already done so) and post about it in the comments.

What I would love you to keep in mind is the parallels that it has with today’s society. Think about the universal themes (if any) that your own writing has. What is relevant in your story from the past? How does your story relate to what people may experience in the future? Let us know about it in the comments.