Black Blizzard

Feeling under the weather (pun intended, see below), I took a nap today, and happened to turn the TV to the History Channel. My lucky day; they slipped up and broadcast a show that was NOT about war or truck drivers! In fact it was about the Dust Bowl, a subject I’ve become fascinated with lately, partly as a way to learn more about Oklahoma history, and try to understand the state’s unusual habit of electing politicians who work against the best interests of the state’s citizens: Jim Inhofe being a current and particularly egregious example, especially as concerned climate issues.

The show was Black Blizzard.

Take a front row seat on a period of U.S. history from 1930-1940 when America’s heartland was ravaged by a weather phenomenon that became known as a “black blizzard.” Watch as scientists and special effects experts recreate the black blizzards in amazing detail and reveal that this was a man-made disaster. Discover how these phenomena form, what they’re made of, and how they affect people’s health and the environment. Learn how a black blizzard emerged so ferociously that it seemed like a moving mountain range creating enough static electricity to power New York City. Hear the story of the people who refused to leave their land and learn the history of the Great Plains and how it came to be settled.

Rating: TVPG

Running Time: 120 minutes

Since I started in the middle, and fell asleep before the end, I will be catching one of the upcoming repeats of the show.

• Thursday, November 13 08:00 AM
• Thursday, November 13 02:00 PM

Note: times shown may be Eastern, the site doesn’t say this far in advance.

In fact, the vast majority of Oklahomans impacted by the storms did not leave the state — the show explains that those who made it to California wrote back that they didn’t encourage anyone to follow their example, so bad were the conditions and the treatment in migrant camps.

Which reinforces my friend Rachel’s insistance that real Okies “don’t quit.”