General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat would happen if . . .
The History Channel or PBS were to produce and air a carefully researched, well-crafted series about the history of the labor movement in this country?
They could talk about the Knights of Labor; the Homestead Strike; the Molly Maguires; Ludlow, CO; Honea Path, SC; Harlan County, KY; the Pullman Strike; the Haymarket Riot; and of course my personal favorite, the Matewan Massacre and the Battle of Blair Mountain. And that is just for starters.
A job for Ken Burns? Or maybe the producers of the superficial but absorbing "The Men Who Built America?"
Americans need to know this stuff, and they don't.When I mention any of these events, except maybe Haymarket, to anyone, I get only blank looks in response.
Demoiselle
(6,787 posts)Brigid
(17,621 posts)I need to do a little research and find out whom to contact.
Warpy
(111,339 posts)and some of it has even made it on the air here in NM.
They've shown "Salt of the Earth" a few times, but not as many times as they should have. It's very much worth watching.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)They don't really avoid talking about these topics; they just have never put on programming that focuses on them. But they don't sugarcoat it when they do talk about it. Their account of the Homestead Strike and their portrayal of Henry Frick in "The Men Who Built America" is absolutely riveting. So is their account of the Battle of Blair Mountain in "Hillbilly: The Real Story."
Warpy
(111,339 posts)some of their programming has been stellar.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)Warpy
(111,339 posts)and not in a good way.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)One of the best hucksters around. A little hair gel (or is it mousse?), a few wacky theories he came up with while smoking some high-quality weed, and he's probably a millionaire. Nice work if you can get it.
Squinch
(51,004 posts)FailureToCommunicate
(14,020 posts)Juan Chacón and Rosaura Revueltas...
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)If only!
ErikJ
(6,335 posts)THey dont even teach it in schools anymore--if ever. We got a tiny bit in my high-school though.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)That I gained most of my knowledge in this area piecemeal -- from here and there, and mostly by surprise. Americans need something systematic and accessible. If it scares TPTB, then so much the better.
brooklynite
(94,727 posts)The people who WATCH PBS probably aren't the people you're trying to reach.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)Quantess
(27,630 posts)They might learn something they didn't learn in school.