This book presents the oral history of Dorothy Marie Rice, detailing her experiences as the seventeenth child in a family of black sharecroppers. Rice recounts her upbringing in Virginia and her subsequent life in New Jersey during the Great Depression, offering a personal perspective on the economic and social conditions of the era. The narrative focuses on the challenges and resilience of a large African American family navigating a difficult period in American history. It serves as a primary source document for understanding the lived experiences of sharecroppers and the Great Migration's impact on families.

This work is a valuable historical document, offering a direct account of a significant period and demographic in American history. Its strength lies in its personal narrative, providing an intimate look at the challenges faced by a large sharecropper family. The book's focus on lived experience makes it a compelling resource for understanding social history.