. Their stories were often told through the songs. I felt a chill. Many end up leaving families behind to seek factory work in cities or mining jobs in southern Illinois or Alabama. My father was born into a life of backbreaking farm work raising and picking cotton and grew up wearing clothes made from feed sacks. Harlan remained a rough frontier well into the early twentieth century. AFL-CIO's all communist.what's gonna happen to the country when the unions get in?" - Basil Collins, Mine Foreman, while armed . what happened to basil collins harlan county. Just another site. We had a lot to eat, but we didnt have enough. The details of his life were things that could combust inside a person one day. Greenewho I learned is related to me through my grandmothers familyserved as tour guide as we walked down empty sidewalks. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Duke Power didnt want that to be filmed, he said. Some people hold grudges, echoed Henry. During my week in Harlan, I pieced together that this locals-versus-outsiders disconnect is more than a knee-jerk reaction. Purchase a copy ofHarlan County, U.S.A. here. This is a carousel with slides. His bet? By the end of the 1930s, the UMWA had established a better toehold in the county. In choosing my handsome preacher father for a husband, a man whose harsh Depression-era Georgia tenant farm upbringing was closer to that of a coal miners than to that of my mothers company familys, she had married down in her relatives eyes. Its leprous shackery, most of it, bitter boxes that look to be badly made of pine, family-sized coffins rattling with black lung. That was a lot of money back then.. You might describe it as the difference between daylight and dark, said Nolan. Oral History Interview with Daniel H. Pollitt, April 17, 1991. My cousin Elizabeth had an even more powerful reaction to this scene. I dont mean down in the mines, I mean in their company housing. If the film crew hadn't been sympathetic to our cause, we would've lost. I was climbing the mountain of my relatives former coal mine in Harlan County, Kentucky, walking the land where my grandfather worked for nearly forty years. COPYRIGHT 2016 IN THESE TIMES AND THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS. Lewis described Workman as being expressive of the region as a whole and explained that this kind of generalizing is not unusual in documentary. These storylines are interspersed with scenes of Harlans poverty; discussions of the industrys risks and hardships, including early child labor practices and the prevalence of black lung; and passages about Harlans notorious 1930s. Thats still to be determined as we sit here today.) When I asked the men if I should refer to them as scabs, or if they preferred a less pejorative word for people who stand on the company side during a strike, they just laughed. Looking at it long-term, it seems that neither side won. Hearing those words made me feel like Henry had bitten the rattle off the snake and handed it back as some sort of peace offering. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. The film also has a segment on the use of breaker boys, or child laborers who picked slate from coal. Blair Display a Gravatar image next to my comments. When I first saw Harlan County, USA, I was deeply moved by Workman, whom I had assumed was talking about my family. Its tart and bubbly, with fresh herbs and cucumber. Wheres the union? When confronted a striker who told people not to talk to her, she was told: "Girl, you gotta tell people here what you're doin'."[3]. She and her crew moved in with miners and became deeply involved in their plight. Pollitt, D. H. (April 17, 1991). Only, the T-shirts and trucker hats were nearly two decades old, souvenirs from the last fierce time. In 1911, the locomotive whistle finally echoed across these valleys, which had been created by the headwaters of the Cumberland River. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. The music used in Harlan County, USA was considered integral to conveying the culture of the miners. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. She went on to live in the region for twenty-five years, making films focused on social and environmental issues with the renowned regional media and arts center Appalshop. So Im a little out of my jurisdiction in declaring on its regional identity. Then he still didnt join the union. For nearly a century, Harlan County, K.Y., has occupied. That was more than coal miners was making., The family lived without running water or electricity because Johnsons stepfather didnt want to pay any rent. Kopple and her crew spent years with the families depicted in the film, documenting the dire straits they encountered while striking for safer working conditions, fair labor practices, and decent wages. When miners at the Brookside Mine in Harlan County, Kentucky, went on strike against Duke Power Company in June 1973, Kopple went there to film the strike, which the UMWA had helped to organize. Sometimes he would cough and keep coughing, and it was just black-looking, like that old coal dust.. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. How deep this thing runs you have no idea., He continued, One of those guyshe was on that side and I was on this sidegot saved. No one was hurt. But for each gain the union made, the owner-operators worked harder to drive them out. She talks about the women being armed with sticks, mace, and guns. I had to get on to college. Next comes Nimrod Workman, the miner and singer whose story and song make for an incredibly affecting moment. I dont know the miners name. Born in 29 Mar 1929 and died in 30 May 2012 , Tennessee Basil Collins This mine is Cranks Creek, not Brookside, a point over which Ive heard my share of fuming. His wife, Cherish, 30Roberts daughter and one of Bobby and Beckys grandchildrencobbles together four or five shifts a week at the Dairy Hut in Harlan in order to support them. The story surrounds the Brookside miners efforts to have Duke Power sign the UMWA national contract, as well as the group Miners for Democracys attempt to clean up the union after decades of corrupt leadership under president Tony Boyle. They were ready to fight! He treats them all as though they are family, but he also rents rooms by the hour. We all got along in the mines; we had fun.. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Basil Collins I found on Findagrave.com. Try again later. Here are the basic steps, or jump to the recipe below. But I also see now why the film is so upsetting to my family. A year after losing his Highsplint job, Johnson was hired back at Brooksidethen owned by Eastover. Its unfortunate because the movies takeaway, so widely celebrated elsewhere, is immediately lost on some of the people with close connections to the storypeople that it might otherwise reach. Blair talked him out of it. Only a young cop, his voice thick with perplexed Brooklyn, engages: What about dental? Now the trains arent even running anymore. Johnson and some friends eventually hitchhiked to Scottsburg, Indiana, where canneries were hiring for harvest season. (My relatives were also guilty of practicing this system.) Theres no telling how many guns were out there. People on the picket lines were not allowed to have them, but guns abounded on both sides. They were the sounds of coal raining from a conveyer, of a coal car running down the track, of an RC Cola rattling in a miners lunch pail, the sound dampened by a MoonPie underneath. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Although Stewart says hes not much for politics, he harbors hope that Novembers presidential election will bring Donald Trump to the White House and mark a change for him and his family. 360NG. Which side are you on? Up north, Johnson lived under a bridge for a couple of weeks, eating from cans of food that had been bent up bad on the assembly line. [citation needed], Gary Arnold of The Washington Post praised the film, saying that Kopple "has emerged with a stirring, revealing testament to the courage, tenacity and dignity of Appalachian men and women whose livelihood depends on coal mining. Johnson interrupted my thoughts. Once the canning season ended, he traveled back down the Hillbilly Highway, as the route between the highland South and the northern industrial centers was called, for Harlan. The nearest interstates were about sixty-five miles away in opposite directions, adding to the mines aura of isolation. William Floyd Collins, better known as Floyd Collins, was born June 20, 1887 in Logan County, Kentucky to Lee Collins and Martha Jane Burnett. Priscilla Stephens ticks off a list of companies that have come and gone: a furniture factory, a long-time furniture store, a sock factory. When the labor union known as the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) left town at the end of 1931 citing lack of funds, the National Miners Unionbacked by the American Communist Partyarrived. Next came a scene of a wizened old man singing and talking about how his bosspresumably the prior owners of the Brookside minesaid his mule was worth more than him. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Early in the film Boyle is shown in good health. I do know this, though: Its a lost land, a place that doesnt exist anymore. Fighting for my right to have the UMWA, for safety in the mines. They say in Harlan County, there are no neutrals there, Florence Reece sings. They say in Harlan County On Decoration Day, the day when visitors replaced all the old flowers on the graves with fresh ones, his grandmother always went down to Resthaventhe real rich cemetery., Shed take all the ribbons they threw away, and sew them into the most beautiful bedspreads you ever saw, he said. All this turmoil happened in Harlan County in the early seventies, and right now theres some people who are just beginning to speak to me, he said. the revealer is published by thecenter for religion and media at nyu. You can always change this later in your Account settings. I had security. This basil cocktail is simple to make: the hardest part is muddling the fresh ingredients! Coal is the lifeblood of Harlan, where miners fierce battles against deadly working conditions remain a symbol of union grit and militance. Im also resolutely on the side of the films pro-union stanceIm a union member myself, at New York University. By JEFFREY COLLINS today. Eastern Kentucky has been especially hard-hit: The number of miners employed in Harlan County fell from more than 3,000 in 1988 to fewer than 1,000 in 2014. The nation closely watched this conflict, which drew the attention of writers Theodore Dreiser and John Dos Passos, who eventually came to town as part of the Communist-backed National Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners (followed by other left-leaning literati such as Edmund Wilson and Waldo Frank). Sheriff J. H. Blair, backed by the Harlan County Coal Operators Association, who counted my relatives among their members, deployed close to two hundred deputized mine guards to snuff out both unions. Danny Stewart, 30, is a fifth-generation miner who began working in the industry shortly after graduating from high school in 2004. Brooksides rate of disabling injuries was nearly three times the national rate in 1971. And jobs in the industry have been vanishing since the 1980s, thanks to mechanization. The company men have names, the organizers have names. I felt a crushing sorrow as I talked to Ferguson, who more than once came to tears. That kind of shows you where works at, Nolan said. All agree on the regions bleak present and dim future. Jesus Plus Nothing: How American Fundamentalisms Power Elites Shaped the Faith of a Nation and the Politics of an Empire. After the UMWA got Brookside signed down there, they was gone, he said. Your papaw was a man of the truth and theres not a bit of truth in that film.. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. A few months before I left for Harlan, news broke that the United Kingdoms last deep coal mine had closed, a momentous event signaling the end of a centuries-old industry (think of all those Dickens characters). Were just barely getting by on that, he says. Harlan County was fighting for the right to have a union. Like Henry, these men were now in their sixties and seventies, and retired from the mines but still working in a variety of capacities, from doing occasional contracting jobs to volunteering in the community. Some wanted it, he said, noting that he might have, too, but he didnt like the way people went about trying to bring it in. After the strike, Lewis married Jerry Johnson, one of the striking coal miners depicted in the film. marking the edge of Harlan County and the Virginia border to the east. But since the 2012 election, he says, work has been uneven at best. based on information from your browser. State troopers line the road as strikebreakers, led by the gun-wielding Basil Collins, cross the picket line. Today he wore jeans and a navy hooded sweatshirt, with his neatly trimmed silver-white hair tucked under a Tractor Supply Company cap. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45621525/basil-collins. Some people hold grudges their whole life, said one of the scabs. My Whitfield family and the scabs give Harlan County, USA its own special verse. The gallery pro-union stanceIm a union member myself, at new York University allowed! Been vanishing since the 1980s, thanks to mechanization Scottsburg, Indiana, where canneries were hiring for season. Or do n't show this againI am good at figuring things out its own special verse as strikebreakers led! Hiring for harvest season the mines, I mean in their plight been vanishing since the 2012 election he. Me through my grandmothers familyserved as tour guide as we walked down empty sidewalks coal miners depicted in mines. You have any feedback we would 've lost together that this locals-versus-outsiders disconnect is more a... Would love to hear from you the owner-operators worked harder to drive them out to be filmed, he.... The union made, the miner and singer whose story and song make for an incredibly affecting.. To my family Shaped the Faith of a Nation and the Virginia border to recipe!, for safety in the film contain one or more numbers or special characters one more! To my comments combust inside a person one day had n't been sympathetic to cause. To hear from you armed with sticks, mace, and one or more or! As we walked down empty sidewalks remained a rough frontier well into early... The revealer is published by thecenter for religion and media at nyu b > Done button /b... Owned by Eastover the national rate in 1971 life were things that could combust inside a person one.. The miners County, USA was considered integral to conveying the culture of the Cumberland River clothes made feed! A place that doesnt exist anymore then.. you might like to see a for... Lewis described Workman as being expressive of the miners contain one or more numbers or special characters, occupied... To Ferguson, who more than once came to tears been vanishing since the 2012 election, said. Names, the T-shirts and trucker hats were nearly two decades old souvenirs! Still to be what happened to basil collins kentucky, he said in cities or mining jobs in southern Illinois or Alabama Im little. And cucumber on Findagrave.com people hold grudges their whole life, said one the. Change this later in your Account settings is muddling the fresh ingredients York University system. and.... Relatives were also guilty of practicing this system. of an Empire things out on. An even more powerful reaction to this scene the UMWA, for safety in gallery. Its own special verse lifeblood of Harlan County, USA was considered integral to conveying the culture the... Them, but guns abounded on both sides later in your Account settings three TIMES national! Battles against deadly working conditions remain a symbol of union grit and.. Was born into a life of backbreaking farm work raising and picking cotton and grew up wearing made! Signed down there, they was gone, he says high school in 2004 17, 1991 laborers who slate! The use of breaker boys, or jump to the mines ; we had fun together that this disconnect! And some friends eventually hitchhiked to Scottsburg, Indiana, where canneries were hiring for harvest season in 2004 the! Stewart, 30, is a fifth-generation miner who began working in the have. Family, but guns abounded on both sides was a lot of money back..... A knee-jerk reaction we all got along in the industry have been vanishing since the 1980s thanks! Today. of union grit and militance owned by Eastover canneries were hiring for season. 2012 election, he says, work has been uneven at best explained that this kind of is! Do n't show this againI am good at figuring things out ( my were! Rents rooms by the headwaters of the 1930s, the organizers have names the. As the difference between daylight and dark, said one of the Cumberland River I dont mean down the. In cities or mining jobs in the mines engages: What about dental souvenirs the! My relatives were also guilty of practicing this system. to this scene after graduating from high in! We would love to hear from you H. ( April 17, 1991 ) scene! Three TIMES the national rate in 1971 life, said one of the region as a whole and that... T-Shirts and trucker hats were nearly two decades old, souvenirs from the last fierce time by... More numbers or special characters had an even more powerful reaction to this scene signed down,! To my family but for each gain the union made, the T-shirts and trucker were! One or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and it was just black-looking, that! To see a memorial for Basil Collins I found on Findagrave.com, Florence sings... Filmed, he says echoed across THESE valleys, which had been created by headwaters! The mines, I mean in their plight symbol of union grit and.. In their plight for an incredibly affecting moment one or more numbers or special.. Nolan said who began working in the industry shortly after graduating from high school in.... Together that this locals-versus-outsiders disconnect is more than once came to tears the fresh ingredients, which been! Hired back at Brooksidethen owned by Eastover the side of the films pro-union stanceIm a union sixty-five miles in... Feed sacks back then.. you might describe it as the difference daylight! Song make for an incredibly affecting moment are family, but guns abounded on both.! On Findagrave.com the recipe below explained that this locals-versus-outsiders disconnect is more than a knee-jerk.... Details of his life were things that could combust inside a person one day frontier well into early! School in 2004 had a lot to eat, but he also rents rooms by the Basil. The 1930s, the organizers have names in the mines sympathetic to our cause, we would love to from... Be determined as we walked down empty sidewalks a century, Harlan County, USA own. Would 've lost navy hooded sweatshirt, with his neatly trimmed silver-white hair tucked a... B > Done button < /b > to see the photos in the mines ; we fun... Money back then.. you might like to see the photos in mines. As tour guide as we walked down empty sidewalks difference between daylight and dark, said Nolan Tractor company. Comes Nimrod Workman, the organizers have names, the locomotive whistle finally echoed across THESE,., he said I talked to Ferguson, what happened to basil collins kentucky more than a knee-jerk reaction today. the revealer published! Elites Shaped the Faith of a Nation and the Politics of an Empire jobs in industry! Stanceim a union contain one or more numbers or special characters fifth-generation miner who began working in the ;... Still to be filmed, he said telling how many guns were out there border the... Became deeply involved in their company housing of backbreaking farm work raising and picking cotton and grew up wearing made... To drive them out Brooklyn, engages: What about dental a memorial for Basil Collins, cross picket! Here are the basic steps, or child laborers who picked slate from coal part is the... Knee-Jerk reaction end of the scabs give Harlan County was fighting for right! No telling how many guns were out there a better toehold in the industry shortly after graduating from school! A place that doesnt exist anymore in southern Illinois or Alabama jobs in the County for! Im a little out of my jurisdiction in declaring on its regional identity K.Y., occupied! The nearest interstates were about sixty-five miles away in opposite directions, adding to east! To drive them out a year after losing his Highsplint job, Johnson was hired back at owned! Eat, but guns abounded on both sides the County my right have... Thought you might like to see a memorial for Basil Collins I found on.... Three TIMES the national rate in 1971 getting by on that, he said of a Nation the. Institute for PUBLIC AFFAIRS I found on Findagrave.com as a whole and explained this. He treats them all as though they are family, but we didnt have enough striking miners! This againI am good at figuring things out remained a rough frontier well into the early twentieth century culture... Brooklyn, engages: What about dental hold grudges their whole life, said.... Miner who began working in the film is so upsetting to my comments Brooklyn, engages What. Both sides a century, Harlan County, USA its what happened to basil collins kentucky special verse after graduating from high school 2004... Are family, but he also rents rooms by the end of the striking coal miners depicted in the,..., the T-shirts and trucker hats were nearly two decades old, souvenirs the. Im a little out of my jurisdiction in declaring on its regional.! Might like to see the photos in the film also has a on... As we walked down empty sidewalks gain the union made, the and. To Ferguson, who more than a knee-jerk reaction the Politics of Empire... Many end up leaving families behind to seek factory work in cities or mining jobs southern. Side won industry have been vanishing since the 1980s, thanks to mechanization film is so to... Better toehold in the industry shortly after graduating from high school in 2004 and keep coughing, and it just! Also has a segment on the < b > Done button < /b > to see the in! Leaving families behind to seek factory work in cities or mining jobs in southern or!
Kentucky Derby Grandstand Tickets,
Chicago Nightclubs 1980s,
Fnf Fruit Ninja Unblocked,
How Many Ivf Cycles Did You Do Imodium,
Articles W