Appalachia : Rich Land, Poor People
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
NET Journal opening credit. Text scroll upwards: "In 1960 John F. Kennedy campaigning in Appalachia drew the nation's attention to the poverty he found there. Since then commissions have been formed, reports written and millions of dollars of federal aid spent. In the last 6 years the mines have been reopened and the coal industry has prospered. But up the creek and hollows the poor people of Appalachia remain, largely unaffected, and outside the political and economic system. This film is about some of those people and that system." Woman (o/s) singing Appalachian song as the camera pans across, overlooking rural hillside town. Teenage Caucasian woman walking in woods; bare branches in the FG. Unpaved road leading up to a house; chimney smoke. Adult Caucasian man walking on side of a road bend; house with two chimneys in BG. Two men walk together, carrying lunch pails. Two elderly men wearing hats looking away from camera. POV from a porch looking out to mountains in the distance.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Middle-aged adult Caucasian male preaching about the beauty of surrounding Appalachian area, especially the colors during fall season, but he wonders how long that will last before greed comes in to take all that which was created for man. Torsos of adult men walking together, carrying lunch pails and thermoses as they walk to work. Man claims there are men coming in from all corners of America to take out all which God had provided for the people who live there, leaving them nothing.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Various adult males (o/s) talking about the statistics regarding coal mining and production in Kentucky. POV from front of a train looking back at pile of coal being transported. Traveling past coal cars; houses in BG. Traveling along a river bank; NET Journal title card appears "Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People".
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
POV from hill, looking down at a house among the trees; zoom as children are heard (o/s). Frank Collins, 38, explaining to an adult male (o/s) that he's able to live here only after selling his electric stove, television, wiring and antenna, bookcase, shotgun, and he no longer has any of that money left once he's paid his bills and debts. Adult male narrator provides Collins' background information, stating he has three children, a sick and pregnant wife, and no job. With money gone, he doesn't know what to do until the first of the month, when he can collect food stamps; smokes a rolled cigarette. Ester getting a glass of water from a bucket and bringing to the mother so she can take her medicine; narrator adds that Collins lost his job at the coal mine due to mechanization and notes the overall decline in local population. Collins shoving coal into a stove and closing door as fire burns; cigarette in mouth.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Emery looking at the camera. Frank Collins, in his bedroom, reading from paper with his recorded living expenses, noting that he "broke even" between income and expenses. Adult male (o/s) in the room talks about the job Collins lost due to mechanization. Collins turns toward his wife, laying in bed, and son, sitting on the bed, saying he could find work in the mines if he could find someone to look after his wife. He'd be able to live off the salary, but not save anything because he wouldn't make the same amount of money. To earn more, he'd need experience on mechanical devices and would have to know someone. Mrs. Collins talks about the dire state of affairs in the area where there's no work, and they have to worry about starvation. They've been trying to make the best of it since August. She claims she was supposed to qualify for a disability check, but no one ever came around. Both agree they've done okay given the circumstances.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Frank Collins walks past his son into the kitchen where he scrubs the stove top, then ladles water from a bucket into a wash basin and washes his hands; he voices his wish for a good job, and states he will go looking once his wife recovers. Photograph of Collins' wife sits in his wife's lap; she comments that was fat in that picture, but now isn't. She recalls the mistakes she made in her youth, believing she would be in a better position now if she followed her younger sister's path of finishing school. Frank shows the diplomas he has completing his high school education. However, he would also be in better position for a job if he finished school on schedule; younger son fidgeting with a toy, leaning on the bed.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Wife of Frank Collins shows a photograph of her at her father's funeral and provides some background on her father. She proceeds to show photographs of her young male and female children (Ester, Emery, Leonard); Ester looking at the camera, then at her mother and the photographs on her lap.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Ester, outside, calling for Emery, who calls back, she throws a rock over the roof of the house. Emery avoids as it bounces to the ground on the other side. Emery tries to do the same back to Ester, but his rock hits the side of the house. His older brother, Leonard, tells him he's gonna put a hole in the house. He finds and takes the rock, throwing it over the roof. Ester walks up to Leonard with the rock and he under-hands it over the house; sound of it hitting the roof as Leonard takes the stick he's holding and pretends to fire a shot at the rock.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Frank Collins scooping boiled vegetable out of a pot onto plate. Emery walking to the table and back, taking off his coat while chewing something in his mouth; carton of milk on table. Collins reaching for cups in cupboard, then walks to stove to scoop something out of pot; adult male (o/s) notes there are jobs in the mines, but they require skills Frank does not possess. Instead there are government work programs, medical cards, and food stamps in an expanding welfare state. Collins carries a small bowl of soup to his wife, sitting on a bed. Emery using a cup to scoop soup into a bowl on the table. Adult male (o/s) notes that Collins borrows $2.50 to buy $60 worth of food stamps at the beginning of each month, but that will run out in less than three weeks. Frank sits down with Emery and Leonard to eat, inviting Jack (interviewer) to join. Emery eating. Frank scooping beans onto his plate. Frank and Leonard eating.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Back of elderly adult Caucasian male standing in front of the Food Stamp Office. Zoom in to a few elderly adult Caucasian women standing against the wall; woman in the middle smoking. Adult Caucasian males and females standing outside the Food Stamp Office as an adult Caucasian female calls out names and provides an envelope to those who come forward, including Frank Collins. Collins stands in front of one of two desk with two middle-aged adult Caucasian females behind it. Adult Caucasian males and females standing in line. Hands counting what are presumably food stamps. Adult Caucasian women waiting, standing against a wall; woman in the middle holding an infant.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Frank Collins eating from his plate; Leonard eating in BG. Frank's wife drinks a glass of milk and eats her meal. Frank and Leonard talking and smiling as Frank drinks from his cup and Leonard keeps eating. Frank narrates that $60 worth of food stamps simply isn't enough to provide the food and nutrition needed for his growing children.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
POV travelling with adult Caucasian male miners in a mantrip through an underground mine. First person POV travelling through mine. Adult male (o/s) notes that "the wealth of Appalachia is underground", but is owned by land and coal companies outside of the region. The rights were bought long ago for much below market value, and, since then, "much of the profit has left the region". Adult Caucasian male miner working with a drill. VS of loose dirt, rocks, coal being transported by conveyor; miners working. VS of coal being dumped into a large container; adult male (o/s) notes how mechanization in the industry has replace much of the original manpower needed to mine coal. Miners used to live in company towns and bought from company stores, working long hours for little pay, and under unsafe conditions until they organized into unions in the 1930s. However, when the mines would close, workers received little notice or help. Traveling POV past a long line of coal cars.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Middle-aged adult Caucasian male provides his recollections to the booming years of the 1920s when coke ovens were on all night, and the theaters and commissaries were full of activity. Young men like him would take dates to the movies. Adult female (o/s) recalling the years where the town and economic activity was booming, but when the coal mines went down, so did the town. Zoom in to a row of houses in a valley, unpaved road going through, but nothing else around it. Adult Caucasian male looking and/or listening to someone off screen. Adult Caucasian male riding a horse in a neighborhood, rides toward the camera; houses and cars in BG. Unpaved road, a house on either side, creating the feeling of abandonment. Two adult Caucasian male miners wearing hard hats stand together, talking.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Middle-aged adult Caucasian male sitting on a couch recalling when coal mines shut down. They gave little to no notice and no help, and you still had to pay them if you lived in their housing, or get kicked out. He considers himself fortunate. Many people got kicked out of their homes, lost their cars. Man states the owners didn't care about anybody. Train tracks running past abandoned building. Train tracks running past abandoned coal mine. Three houses in a row. Dog on a porch; post and wire fencing. Row of houses with porches.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
U.S.S. 1 boat travelling on river, past large deposits of coal on a barge. POV ascending in elevator; high-rises and skyscrapers seen through elevator screen. Ship in port; suspension bridges in BG. Adult Caucasian male miner walking past large piles of coal. Looking up at the sun with smoke around it, dissipating; pan down to a coal mine. Panning view of a large coal mine in operation; adult male (o/s) believes both World Wars would not have been won without the coal fields of Kentucky and West Virginia. Smoke and flames emanate inside a foundry. Adult Caucasian male riding on the front of a locomotive driving through coal mine; adult male (o/s) states that it takes a ton and a half of coal to produce a car. Black and white smoke billows with flames as material is dumped into a container. Overview of cars driving across a suspension bridge in either direction; adult male (o/s) says industry in eastern Kentucky is typical of how the country was founded, through private enterprise.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Blurry to focused view through a screen of adult Caucasian women seated in a row, working on assembly line. Adult Caucasian males and females working on assembly line. VS of men working on car assembly line; car chassis being moved around by machine. Men and women walking city street. Car parts moving along conveyor system. Adult African American male working on the assembly line; parts moving in the FG. Wide view of cars driving across a suspension bridge.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Middle-aged adult Caucasian female looking concerned; middle-aged adult Caucasian female in BG, blurred. Middle-aged Caucasian male looking off camera. Roofs and chimneys of houses in a line. Train cars moving past camera; adult male (o/s) notes how coal from Central Appalachia has supported American industries for half a century. "The wealth underground is rarely reflected above ground". Illiteracy is high, there is food shortage coupled with vitamin deficiency, the streams are polluted with refuse in the countryside, and the mountains are strip mined. Few benefit from coal company income and civic engagement. Caucasian male child sits on wooden porch rail outside a U.S. Post Office in Regina, Kentucky. Adult male walks in decrepit part of town; two adult males walking together in BG. Three adult women walking on bridge over a stream; trash lodged under the bridge. Freight train passing through town; adult Caucasian male engineer comes out of the locomotive as a car drives by in FG.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Freight train slowly passing through town; adult Caucasian male engineer crosses the locomotive to talk to another adult Caucasian male in the cab on the opposite side. David Zegeer, Superintendent of Mines for the Beth-Elkhorn Corporation, (o/s) explains his company is a subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel and they operate three coal mines and preparation plants to mine coal, produce coke, and make steel. Last year, in their town, twenty-five to thirty new homes were built. Travelling POV past a couple ranch style houses and large lawns. David, while driving, speaks positively about his company through their wages, opportunities, living environment, and their low turnover rate is an indication to him of satisfaction with the company.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
POV travelling over and past a coal mine facility; adult male (o/s) states that America's steel companies buy millions of dollars worth of coal annually from Appalachian counties, but those counties have little money for public services. Caucasian female child playing with two puppies in a yard; shoddy wire and wooden post fencing in FG. Four Caucasian male children walk and carry two buckets of coal in pairs; adult male (o/s) notes property taxes are low, but county tax assessors aren't given the money to do proper assessments.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Delmar Draughn, Knott County Tax Assessor, states they do no mapping or surveys, and are given no technical advice from the Revenue Department. He relies on companies to provide an honest list, and be accurate. Adult male (o/s) asks Draughn how he can verify company assessments if he cannot survey the land. Draughn sheepishly replies they simply have to trust them. The companies have a mapping system and bring in maps for county tax commissioners to review, though they don't pretend to understand them well. Draughn is asked if ever tries to raise tax assessments on them, and he often does. He is asked about tax assessments, and Draughn is for it, believing it would financially help the counties, but knows coal operators oppose it and have the economic leverage over legislators with jobs and capital investments in the counties and state. Adult male narrator (o/s) provides context on the new tax that would charge five cents for every ton of coal taken out of the ground.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
David Zegeer, Superintendent of Mines for the Beth-Elkhorn Corporation, asks who is to judge whether or not coal companies are paying enough taxes. They pay what is legally required, and "in fact, we even pay more". Zegeer states they pay twenty percent of the taxes in Knott County alone, but they only own two percent of the minerals. Adult male (o/s) asks what the minerals are worth. Zegeer says they're worth nothing unless you can make a profit after getting them out of the ground, though there is substance for a good debate. Zegeer adds that without coal there would be very little value in the area, therefore the people in the area should be very happy companies like his and others do business in the area. Zegeer believes that if they are wrong for mining in Eastern Kentucky, then there is something wrong with the country's philosophy. To do it any other way is socialism. Travelling POV following coal being transported by train.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Leonard following his father, Frank Collins, through a wooded area; both carrying a bucket. Frank narrating on the alternatives energies like gas and electric making coal cheap now. The majority of cost comes in transporting it. Adult male (o/s) notes that Frank used to buy coal for his family, but now he digs for it. Frank Collins crawling under a rock with his bucket to search for and collect coal. Leonard waits outside for the bucket, grabbing it after Frank is done piling it full. Frank continues shoving dirt/coal into the bucket.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Frank Collins, sitting outside the entrance to area where he scavenged for coal, explains that the coal companies have bought up all the coal rights, cheaply, and there is nothing left for the poor. He believes less than a dozen people in the county may have coal rights. The rest are owned by large coal mining companies, leaving him and others to get coal however they can. He calls for his son, Leonard, who walks uphill to his father and hands him something. Adult male (o/s) states that if no action is taken now, the problem will plague their children and grandchildren.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Dome of the Capitol Building in Charleston, West Virginia rising above tree tops; zoom out to a group of adult and young adult, predominantly Caucasian, males and females standing together near a tent, and speaking with one another as the camera then zooms in to one of young adult Caucasian males. Adult male (o/s) notes that neither private enterprise nor government welfare have done anything to bring about meaningful change in their lives. Speaking on the gathered group of people, the narrator notes "these men, and several VISTA workers, came out of the mountains of West Virginia to protest a forty-five percent cut in welfare payments and lack of jobs at home".
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Adult Caucasian man says America is a rich country, so why should its people have to live in poverty when there are resources to help them. West Virginia is coal rich; another adult Caucasian man agreeing in FG. Adult male (o/s) notes that these men have large families and are on "make work" programs that provide no future, but provide enough money to survive. They are here to protest a cut to those programs. West Virginia says there's a lack of federal funds due to the Vietnam War. Adult Caucasian man claiming he's worked all his life, he's received government assistance for eight months, and gone to school. Now, he's receiving less money. He wouldn't mind going to school and work. Adult male (o/s) asks how many children he has. The man says he has five boys. Adult male (o/s) states the work and education programs that seemed promising have not delivered. Highway project are incomplete and while health and education standards have been raised, they still lag behind national levels.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Adult African American male says there are no jobs back home, and if you can get a job it doesn't pay enough ($20/week) to support a family; adult Caucasian males stand in the BG as an adult male (o/s) notes you can get more money on welfare. Man asks about Clay County and the adult Caucasian man says there is nothing there but a coal mine and camping outfit. Man asks what they all want and the African American man says they all want jobs where they can make enough money to be independent and support their families; zoom in to the adult Caucasian man standing behind him who adds that he wants to see jobs and factories in West Virginia. African American man says he'd be glad to work, doesn't want any handouts; smokes a cigarette. Young adult Caucasian man talks about coming down to Charleston after graduating from law school, being apolitical, believing in government responsiveness to people, but has become extremely disillusioned with the democratic process in the state and country.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Adult male (o/s) names Rick Banks, a VISTA volunteer from New York, and Bob Tanner, an Appalachian volunteer from California, as organizers of the protest. One talks about being down to gravy and coffee last week and that nothing seems to be working as it should within the state. The other says that people are only recently beginning to understand what political power is. Once the poor and middle class coalesce through a common cause, there won't be any political impetus against them.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Bob Holcomb, former President of the Kentucky Independent Coal Operators Association, is a critic of the protestors, and, when asked about what their complaint is, responds by saying they complain just to complain. He opposes attempts by VISTA and other organization to organize the poor. In his view, these protestors believe government is the solution to everything and should have control over everything, which sounds like Russian philosophy. While Holcomb believes poverty exists, he thinks it is more a state of mind and provides an example. Elderly adult Caucasian male standing next to him is in agreement, adding that there are no need for these volunteer organizations. People need jobs.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Adult Caucasian male volunteer lists off a bad tax system, bad education, bad roads which keeps industries out, and the workers are poorly educated due to a bad education system; young adult Caucasian males listening. At some point that system has to change in order to benefit the state's citizens, provide them with job opportunities, and create better citizens. Attacking the welfare recipient simply attacks the product of the system, the one who is suffering, and does not address the cause or creator of the system. Adult Caucasian male questions why a person is suffering under this system and whether it is their own choosing not to have a job. There is a debate and disconnect between the anti-poverty volunteers and the young men who believe simply getting any job solves poverty issues, but the volunteers contend there are no jobs to be had and job training is poor. Adult Caucasian male provides a successful example of job training through infrastructure projects in Eastern Washington.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Herbert Philbrick speaking to the Pikeville Chamber of Commerce in Kentucky on the dangers of Communism in the United States and Eastern Kentucky. Philbrick warning that a million Americans doing nothing cannot win a fight against a handful of Communists who passionately believe in their cause. VS of the adult Caucasian males and females in attendance. Adult male (o/s) notes that Philbrick's appearance followed the arrest and indictment for sedition brought against poverty workers, who had been helping landowners organize against strip mining. The charge was thrown out and they were released. Philbrick ends by hoping for more people of equal dedication and concern to anti-communist causes; zoom out to applause and a standing ovation.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Elderly Caucasian man believes there are definitely Communists among them and in those anti-poverty folks, agreeing with Herbert Philbrick's sentiments; adult Caucasian males and females cleaning up the tables in the BG. Elderly adult Caucasian male claims they've always made a living in the mountains just fine and don't need any government assistance groups in their midst. He owns property and takes care of it. He proceeds to criticize "these people coming in the restaurants" for the way they smell, not having the decency to at least take a bath in a washtub; at least the poor in the state bathe. Continues criticizing the them and the government for coming into the state to tell them how to live. Elderly adult Caucasian male standing next to him tells him that he spoke them on Saturday already about this, and the other man proceeds to criticize them for "dressing like hillbillies" and not being clean shaven. "You've come to the wrong damn place, believe you me."
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Elderly adult Caucasian male continues warning and criticizing the interviewers (o/s), stating that if they come to them as human beings, they'll be treated that way, but if they come as "beatniks", they'll be treated that way. "My friend, you better believe it. You're trending on damn dangerous ground. Divorce yourself from this bunch of scum and get ready. Be human beings." Adult male (o/s) asks why it's dangerous ground and if the groups are helping poor people. This continues to agitate the man, saying the locals won't continue to tolerate it. He is further agitated after being asked how they're being taxed, asking if the interviewer owns any property (he doesn't), before being led away by another elderly adult Caucasian male. Before leaving, he plainly states he doesn't like their clothing and unshaven faces.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Reverend Andrew Young of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference speaking. Young adult Caucasian female, with a male Caucasian toddler on her lap, looking up at Young; toddler looking at the camera. Adult Caucasian male with an absent look on his face. Young claims that states like Mississippi and West Virginia don't provide enough assistance or improve education, or housing because they want their poor to get out and go to places like Chicago, where Mayor Daley tries to get them to move to places like Los Angeles. Nobody wants them. Middle-aged adult Caucasian and African American females get off a bus. Group of adult Caucasian males and females gathering, greeting each other outside; adult male (o/s) explaining a meeting is taking places between Appalachian people of different states to discuss local problems and attempt to get "white Appalachians to identify with the black Civil Rights Movement". Young believes that the poor "take over where we are, and run that."
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Robert Fulcher, President of Mercer County Cap Organization, speaking passionately, urging everyone to remember the reason why they are going to Washington D.C. Adult Caucasian female and males listening. Fulcher saying West Virginians need jobs with good pay. He cites a statistic that places West Virginia #12, economically, in the U.S. in terms of wealth. However, he sees West Virginia as more of a colony because all of their natural resources and minerals are owned by those living out of state, and none of that wealth is taxed. He wants those extracted minerals and resources to at least be processed and refined in state, provide jobs and income to the people who live in the state. Fulcher passionately advocating for white people to acknowledge their poverty and their status.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Robert Fulcher, President of Mercer County Cap Organization, calling on "white people" to identify with their state and status; adult Caucasian and African American, predominantly males, listening, but mainly Caucasian males applauding. Middle-aged adult Caucasian male applauding, surprised at his own reaction. Adult Caucasian male with his head tilted back, laughing; sign for "Poor Peoples Campaign of Kentucky" in the BG. VS of adult Caucasian, predominantly men, applauding. Fulcher compliments Reverend Andrew Young, and the two men hug on stage. Adult Caucasian and African American men and women giving a standing ovation. Fulcher admits his previous racism of black people until he took another look at the Bible and realized "we're all human being in the sight of God". He is no longer ashamed and can stand for human dignity and human rights.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Emery and his mother watching a mechanical toy fox on the floor of the house. Ester playing outside, throws a ball that hits Emery. Ester, Emery, and Leonard all playing out side with another Caucasian male child. Leonard chopping wood, carrying wood pieces inside the house; narrating that he likes it here because it feels like home. He's never been to any city other than Lexington, but he likes his surroundings. Ester and her mother looking at something together; Ester whispers to her mother. Frank Collins washing cups and dishes in wash basin while Emery plays just outside the window; Frank and his wife talk about Leonard turning fourteen, old enough to work since he likely won't be going to high school due to poor grades. Frank talks about the family members he has in different cities around the country. The mother wants to keep him around as long as possible, but Frank says you "can't tie a young person down".
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
VS of Frank and his wife interacting with Emery and Leonard; mother smoking. Leonard showing his mother a drawing in his binder. Leonard narrating his academic failures in grade school, but knowing that without an education it will be difficult to find a job. Frank taking a smoke. Emery watching his brother draw. Mother chewing gum. Frank rolling a cigarette. Frank looking at drawing by Emery, giving constructive criticism, and saying it's pretty good for his age; mother laying down in bed in the BG, smoking. Parents smiling at each other, sharing a laugh.
Appalachia: Rich Land, Poor People
Title card. Credits.