Harlan County USA
The movie Harlan County, USA had a lot of elements of social movements that we discussed in class. For me, what stood out the most about Harlan County was the use of women in the strike. Women were involved in every aspect of the strike. They met together to discuss the strike; they even coordinated picketing and then carried through and actually stood on the picketline; the women at one point also laid down in the road so that the scabs could not get through; and when the police came to tell the picketers to move on the women talked to the police and even gave the police a warrant for someone's arrest. It is no doubt that women were an integral part of the mine strikes in Harlan County.
Another part of the movie that I believe was important was when they went to New York City to bring publicity to their cause. While they were in New York a police officer asked if it was there first day picketing and they explained to him that it was their ninth month. This shows how little publicity just picketing in their own towns actually generated. Towards the end of the movie a man was admitting that no one would have cared about the mine strike if it was just a strike in Harlan County. He explained that the strike was won by a lot of different factors, including the publicity in New York.
In the movie the miners also used art to get their message across. At one point they had buttons and bumper stickers however throughout the movie they used song as an essential part of the movement. The songs helped unite the group and tell others about the problems affecting the mine workers.
Unity in general was a vital part of the mine workers strike. They even mentioned in the movie that you can't win with six picketers. As I discussed before the women were important for the movement and even stressed unity among the group in many of their talks. Also, at one part of the movie all of the UMWA members came to support the community. With so much unity it is easy to tell how organized the group was. Organization is a key factor in many social movements.
Lastly, the mine workers' strike showed the cycle of social movements. By this I mean the movement focused on a specific issue/issues and then when they got what they wanted they shifted their focus to a new issue/issues. If they were to just have accepted the first contract they were given they would have limited their rights (because I believe the first contract said they were no longer allowed to strike) and the Union may have died out. Yet, they fought until, as one worker put it, they got what they wanted not just what they were given.
Another part of the movie that I believe was important was when they went to New York City to bring publicity to their cause. While they were in New York a police officer asked if it was there first day picketing and they explained to him that it was their ninth month. This shows how little publicity just picketing in their own towns actually generated. Towards the end of the movie a man was admitting that no one would have cared about the mine strike if it was just a strike in Harlan County. He explained that the strike was won by a lot of different factors, including the publicity in New York.
In the movie the miners also used art to get their message across. At one point they had buttons and bumper stickers however throughout the movie they used song as an essential part of the movement. The songs helped unite the group and tell others about the problems affecting the mine workers.
Unity in general was a vital part of the mine workers strike. They even mentioned in the movie that you can't win with six picketers. As I discussed before the women were important for the movement and even stressed unity among the group in many of their talks. Also, at one part of the movie all of the UMWA members came to support the community. With so much unity it is easy to tell how organized the group was. Organization is a key factor in many social movements.
Lastly, the mine workers' strike showed the cycle of social movements. By this I mean the movement focused on a specific issue/issues and then when they got what they wanted they shifted their focus to a new issue/issues. If they were to just have accepted the first contract they were given they would have limited their rights (because I believe the first contract said they were no longer allowed to strike) and the Union may have died out. Yet, they fought until, as one worker put it, they got what they wanted not just what they were given.
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