What is the WPA and why won't mr.Cuunnigham work for it?

The WPA, or Works Progress Administration, was a New Deal agency established in the 1930s to provide jobs and support for the unemployed during the Great Depression through public works projects. Mr. Cunningham refuses to work for the WPA because he values his pride and independence; he does not want to accept government assistance or charity, believing it undermines his self-respect and dignity. This decision reflects his strong sense of personal integrity and the cultural values of self-reliance.