Oxford College Principles of Microeconomics Course Throughline: Lives Of The Great Depression
Nov 26, 2025
Fong, a participant in oral histories from San Francisco's Chinatown, shares vivid memories of life during the Great Depression. He discusses the extreme frugality required for survival, living in shared rooms, and innovative strategies for affordable meals. Fong paints a sensory picture of Chinatown, bringing to life the sounds and atmosphere of that era. He also reflects on his experiences working under New Deal programs, mentioning the discrimination faced and the transient nature of such gains. Fong's insights reveal the tenacity and resilience of a community during challenging times.
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Chinatown Survival Economy
- Fong lived in San Francisco's Chinatown and often had only a few dimes in his pocket during the Depression.
- He relied on cheap Chinese food, shared rooms, and community routines to get by.
Multiple Faces Of The Depression
- The episode uses four distinct voices to show the Depression wasn't a single uniform experience.
- Those varied perspectives reveal social and regional differences in hardship and resilience.
College Dreams Meet Street Hunger
- Dorothy Height arrived in New York eager for college but found men selling apples on street corners because nobody had money.
- She witnessed widespread hunger and soup kitchens in Harlem and other neighborhoods.
