Harlan County, Ky. documentary on the lives and struggles of the miners on TCM. Great show..n/t

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12 replies	Author	Time	Post
Harlan County, Ky. documentary on the lives and struggles of the miners on TCM. Great show..n/t (Original post)	monmouth4	Oct 2015	OP
Exploitation of miners, communities and the environment by a corrupt modern	appalachiablue	Oct 2015	#1
I should be doing other things but am transfixed on this program. Wasn't that long ago either..n/t	monmouth4	Oct 2015	#2
A boss of mine, one of the finest human beings I've ever met was born and	appalachiablue	Oct 2015	#4
My mother was born in Harlan County	michreject	Oct 2015	#9
There are quite a few on this forum from central Appalachia and also a sub group.	appalachiablue	Oct 2015	#12
Which side are you on, boys...	Cal Carpenter	Oct 2015	#3
It's the 1976 documentary made about the 1972 mine strike and the issues workers fought. Strong	appalachiablue	Oct 2015	#5
Yep that's a great movie	Cal Carpenter	Oct 2015	#10
I admire that lady that stood up to the sheriff.	lpbk2713	Oct 2015	#6
Progressives who think white southerners are a lost cause should watch this documentary NT	Ex Lurker	Oct 2015	#7
Florence Reece	struggle4progress	Oct 2015	#8
A strong woman with a legendary song for workers. Thank you.	appalachiablue	Oct 2015	#11

Response to monmouth4 (Original post)

Thu Oct 15, 2015, 10:16 PM

appalachiablue (39,539 posts)

1. Exploitation of miners, communities and the environment by a corrupt modern

feudalistic system comprised of out of state corporate elites, local officials and dependent workers. And very little in between. ~ Which side are you on?

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Response to appalachiablue (Reply #1)

Thu Oct 15, 2015, 10:31 PM

monmouth4 (9,303 posts)

2. I should be doing other things but am transfixed on this program. Wasn't that long ago either..n/t

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Response to monmouth4 (Reply #2)

Thu Oct 15, 2015, 11:37 PM

appalachiablue (39,539 posts)

4. A boss of mine, one of the finest human beings I've ever met was born and

raised in Harlan Co. in a coal miner's family. A remarkable woman of intelligence and courage who was also gracious, hard working and fair. If someone teased her about being from Kentucky, the land of beautiful horses and fast women she took it well.

She told how her mother and miner's wives once located their absent husbands in a woodland cabin where they were drinking, gambling, spending their pay and worse. The men wouldn't listen so finally the women set the cabin foundation alight with fuel. In no time the men were flushed out and never went back. Survival justice.

The year of the Harlan Co. strike, 1972, we moved but I retain fond memories of the place that provided me a wonderful education and foundation for life. This account of the miner's struggles and hardships back then is powerful and poignant. Another outstanding film is 'Matewan', director John Sayles 1986 story of the 1920s southern WV mine wars in Mingo/Logan where I was born.

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Response to appalachiablue (Reply #4)

Fri Oct 16, 2015, 05:51 AM

michreject (4,378 posts)

9. My mother was born in Harlan County

Granddaddy worked in the coal mine and later was the county Sheriff. He died from black lung. After he passed, they all moved over to Middlesboro, KY.

Still got a lot of kin folk down there.

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Response to michreject (Reply #9)

Fri Oct 16, 2015, 08:53 AM

appalachiablue (39,539 posts)