“I remember the Dust Bowl real well:” Interview with Bernice Carter

This spring, the Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society (OCHS) commemorates the ninetieth anniversary of Black Sunday—the iconic dust storm that symbolizes a decade of environmental crisis in the 1930s. As we seek lessons from the Dust Bowl, we're highlighting a remarkable YouTube video from Leedey Public Schools featuring 103-year-old Bernice Carter.

Born in 1920, Bernice grew up among German immigrant farmers southeast of Leedey. In March 2024, she shared her memories with students, offering a unique perspective on life during the Dust Bowl, Great Depression, and World War II.

At 13, Bernice experienced the Black Friday Dust Storm. While Dewey County's dust storms weren't as severe as those in the Panhandle, she recalls the constant challenge: "You couldn't sit down and eat a meal without washing off the table." Their farm relied entirely on rainwater collected in a cistern, making dust management even more difficult.

Bernice describes her childhood as one where they "worked hard, played hard" in a close community of "siblings, cousins, neighbors." She walked two miles each way to attend Solid Rock School, completing eighth grade. Later in life, she and her sister earned their GED certificates when Bernice was in her fifties.

Her memories include significant New Deal conservation efforts, particularly the shelter belt program that established rows of trees to combat erosion. "There is still some of those trees standing," she notes, highlighting these initiatives' lasting impact.

In 1941, Bernice married just before Pearl Harbor. During WWII, she worked for Boeing in Wichita and later at what would become Tinker Air Force Base. After the war, she and her husband returned to Dewey County, raising their family near her childhood home.

At 103, Bernice remains active and still drives her Mercury. When complimented on her wealth of historical knowledge, she responded with characteristic humor: "All you have to do is get old."

As we reflect on Black Sunday's anniversary, Bernice Carter's firsthand account reminds us that the Dust Bowl wasn't just an environmental disaster but a lived experience that shaped generations of Oklahomans, demonstrating the resilience and spirit that helped rural communities persevere through challenging times.

The full interview with Bernice Carter can be viewed on Leedey Public Schools' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-7EGPtXnEQ