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Tanuki

(16,140 posts)
17. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.😡
Thu Oct 23, 2025, 02:22 PM
Thursday

Maybe we will have another Harvest of Shame moment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_of_Shame

"Harvest of Shame was a 1960 television documentary presented by broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow on CBS that showed the plight of American migrant agricultural workers. It was Murrow's final documentary for the network; he left CBS at the end of January 1961, at John F. Kennedy's request, to become head of the United States Information Agency. An investigative report intended "to shock Americans into action," it was "the first time millions of Americans were given a close look at what it means to live in poverty" by their televisions.
....
The opening is voiced over footage of migrant workers, including a number of African Americans, being recruited:

This scene is not taking place in the Congo. It has nothing to do with Johannesburg or Cape Town. It is not Nyasaland or Nigeria. This is Florida. These are citizens of the United States, 1960. This is a shape-up for migrant workers. The hawkers are chanting the going piece rate at the various fields. This is the way the humans who harvest the food for the best-fed people in the world get hired. One farmer looked at this and said, "We used to own our slaves; now we just rent them."
.....
The program originally aired just after Thanksgiving Day in November 1960. The December 5, 1960 edition of Time quoted producer Lowe as saying,

We felt that by scheduling the program the day after Thanksgiving, we could stress the fact that much of the food cooked for Thanksgiving throughout the country was picked by migratory workers. We hoped that the pictures of how these people live and work would shock the consciousness of the nation.
....
Murrow's closing words are these:

The migrants have no lobby. Only an enlightened, aroused and perhaps angered public opinion can do anything about the migrants. The people you have seen have the strength to harvest your fruit and vegetables. They do not have the strength to influence legislation. Maybe we do. Good night, and good luck.'

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Build a ballroom, starve Americans GOP shits bronxiteforever Thursday #1
42 million Americans will be affected Coldwater Thursday #3
he is trying to make us all sick and homeless. rampartd Thursday #4
It appears so. 2naSalit Thursday #5
More than that as this effects the entire Grocery industry IbogaProject Thursday #15
Let them eat cake. COL Mustard Thursday #23
& no health care to treat New Years' starvation patients bucolic_frolic Thursday #2
Honestly, does anyone believe that the plan Bettie Thursday #6
Nope durablend Thursday #7
Secretly ....................... Lovie777 Thursday #8
Find the nearest food bank and send them a check. redwitch Thursday #9
Agreed Coldwater Thursday #10
I sent a check just before this news happened. BeyondTheVeilJack Thursday #24
How Much Do Grocery Stores Make? (Average Grocery Store Revenue Data 2025) cbabe Thursday #11
k&r n/t area51 Thursday #12
Really bad sh!t! electric_blue68 Thursday #13
41.7 millions Americans receive SNAP benefits...12.3% of the population. pecosbob Thursday #14
But we can afford $20 billion to help out a friendly leader in Argentina. patphil Thursday #16
Apparent $20 billion won't be enough Coldwater Thursday #21
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.😡 Tanuki Thursday #17
Multiple states have issued alerts to SNAP recipients, warning that they may not receive November benefits if the Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Thursday #18
Well, sorry, but someone has gold trinkets to buy and another case of Elmer's glue. Vinca Thursday #19
This is the president canetoad Thursday #20
MAGA thinks the blame will stick to Dems. maxsolomon Thursday #22
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»SNAP benefits won't be is...»Reply #17