cropping, but it was not enough to keep the families going. Cases when people saved up money to buy their own land were rare and in most cases they could not keep it for long because of the debts. Samuel Bishop got lucky because he was able to buy the land and keep it for so long, but after his death there was nothing for the family to do but to go into the debt.This poverty was the major cause of migration because there were no opportunities for the youth in the South. Everyone knew that all the opportunities were up North where the big industries are and the abundance of jobs to be filled. However, with all the opportunities came the consequences of living in big cities. Crime, violence, no one to turn for support to because all the relatives live back home or in different cities. All that drove many back home, but they were different people. They knew what had to be done to better their lives down South. They had the skills, the knowledge and the strength to change things. MAC, Inc. and Holding Hands were organized to help out the poor, which included almost everybody. These are the consequences of living up North people came back knowing what has to be done.Even though the younger generation that came back knew what had to be done, they still seek the support of their elders. The kinship system played tremendously important role in all those peoples lives. All the family gatherings were always attended no matter how far everybody is. Being a family is what has always gotten them through hard times. When the children moved back and had to start all over, their family was always there for them. Pearl had taken in Eulas children and her while she was recovering after the operation. Samuels niece and nephew came to live with them when they lost their parents. If not for Pearl raising them, they would have ended up in an orphanage and nobody knows what could have happened to them. People survived through moral and financial support from...
