Coal Miner: Frank Jackson
Thematic Program

Running Time:
12 minutes
Screening Info:
Thursday, April 8
9:30 pm
Cinema One
Director(s):
Ben Zickafoose
Producer(s):
Appalshop, Inc.
Editor(s):
Ben Zickafoose
Cinematographer(s):
Ben Zickafoose
Release Year:
1971
Country:
US

From the Appalshop archive comes this black-and-white piece of history that provides a rare and authentic look at coal miners in the early 1970s.   The film features Frank Jackson, who has spent his life in the mines and speaks unapologetically of unions, prejudice, and the coal-mining way of life.  Stark and simple, this 11½-minute film does what history books can’t—it captures the deep mountain accents of the black-faced laborers and takes you down into the dark claustrophobic caverns where they spent their days.  RYS