Who were Okies in the 1930s?

Okies were migrants, primarily from Oklahoma, who fled the Dust Bowl during the 1930s in search of better living conditions and work opportunities, particularly in California. This mass movement was driven by severe drought, agricultural collapse, and economic hardship. Often facing discrimination and challenging living conditions, Okies became emblematic of the struggles during the Great Depression, highlighting themes of resilience and displacement in American history. Their experiences were famously depicted in literature, most notably in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath."