A Study Guide for the Film by Minnow Media
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A Study Guide for the Film by Minnow Media By the Farmworker Advocacy Network and the NC Council of Churches Table of Contents How This Film Began Introduction .................................................... 1 In November of 1960, Edward R. Murrow pre- How This Film Began ..................................... 1 sented the documentary Harvest of Shame the day Facts About Farmworkers .............................. 2 after Thanksgiving on CBS News. This landmark Facts About Child Labor ................................ 2 documentary depicted the plight of migrant farm- Farmworkers and Health ................................ 2 workers in the United States, a primarily African Protections Under the Law ............................ 2 American workforce at that time. Harvest of Shame explores the conditions under which farmworkers General Discussion Questions ....................... 3 labored, including health risks, poor wages, harsh Questions for Faith Communities .................. 3 living conditions, and few opportunities for their Questions for Students .................................. 4 children. Questions for “Foodies” ................................. 4 Quotes by Farmworkers ................................. 5 Sadly, today’s migrant farm workforce faces many Quotes about Farm Labor .............................. 5 of the same conditions. Largely a Latino population Take Action .................................................... 6 of immigrants from Mexico and Central America, NC Farmworker Organizations ....................... 6 these workers still face poverty, food insecurity, Notes .............................................................. 7 hazardous working conditions and few protections under the law. On the 50th anniversary of the original Harvest of Shame documentary, the Farmworker Advocacy Introduction Network worked with Minnow Media to produce a new documentary film, revealing the conditions Farmworkers feed the world. Farm and poul- farmworkers faced then and now. Because migrant try work is some of the most difficult, most farmworkers are a largely invisible population to dangerous and most important work in our most residents of North Carolina, it is important community. North Carolina is home to roughly to educate our community about where our food 150,000 farmworkers and 28,000 poultry work- comes from and to highlight the pride many farm- ers and their families. The vast majority of the workers take in their work. fruits and vegetables and nearly all of the poul- try we eat are picked or processed by hand. Through sharing the stories of the meaning of work for farmworkers and the realities of their working conditions, the Farmworker Advocacy Network However, the people who feed our families and the NC Council of Churches hope to promote through their hard work are often among the community dialogue and understanding, and to worst paid and least protected workers in our support our policy and advocacy work to improve state. conditions for farmworkers. The Harvest of Dignity campaign, coordinated A Question Before Viewing: by the Farmworker Advocacy Network, is working to change the deplorable conditions Food is often a central part of family interactions and community building. Think about a significant holiday or that lead to a harvest of shame. North Carolin- family gathering and describe the importance of food in ians are joining their voices in demanding safe that situation. How does food strengthen your family or places to live, safe places to work, and strong community? How does the act of sharing a meal influence enforcement of existing laws so that some of your relationships with others? the state’s most vulnerable workers will have dignity on the job. Find out more at: Through a collaborative partnership with One www.harvestofdignity.org. Economy, the entire film is available for free at pic.tv/harvest. You can order DVD copies of the ~ Chris Liu-Beers & Lisa Marie Talbott, 2011 film at www.ncfan.org. Cover photos by Peter Eversoll. Used with permission. www.ncfan.org 1 Visit the Harvest of Dignity film online: Facts About Farmworkers Facts About Child Labor Major NC crops requiring hand labor include: NC child labor law permits children as young tobacco, Christmas trees, sweet potatoes, cu- as 12 years old and in some cases as young cumbers, apples, bell peppers, and other fruits as 10 to labor in the fields, while in every other and vegetables. industry the minimum age is 14 or above. Nationally, farmworkers’ average annual in- Agriculture is one of the three most danger- come is $11,000; for a family it is approxi- ous industries in the nation, and yet every year mately $16,000. Farmworkers on the East across the country close to 500,000 farm- Coast earn about 35% less than the national worker children and youth risk their childhood, average. health, and well-being in order to bring food to our tables. Children in NC are no exception. Most farmworkers are exempt from minimum wage laws, and all are exempt from overtime Field investigations in NC have uncovered provisions, despite long work days during children as young as six working in the fields. peak harvest. Most Americans still envision farms as safe, nurturing places. Unfortunately, the safe, In a recent study, nearly 5 out of 10 North happy and healthy farm life that many of us Carolina farmworkers reported that they can- imagine is just a myth for farmworker children not afford enough food for themselves and in North Carolina. their families. Farmworkers and Health Protections Under the Law Farmworkers endure the highest rate of toxic Nearly all of NC’s migrant farmworkers live chemical injuries and skin disorders of any in housing that is provided by the grower or workers in the country. crewleader. The Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau of the North Carolina Department of Nausea, vomiting, cramping and itchy/burn- Labor (NCDOL), which is headed by Commis- ing eyes are known short-term effects of acute sioner Cherie Berry, is responsible for inspect- pesticide poisoning while long-term health ing migrant housing prior to occupancy and for effects of pesticide exposure include cancer, investigating complaints when the housing is neurological disorders, miscarriage, memory substandard. loss, and depression. Federal and state audits, as well as indepen- Nationwide, nearly half of farmworkers report dent research, reveal the following serious having skin rashes. Green tobacco sickness, problems in NCDOL’s enforcement practices: or nicotine poisoning through the skin, is ex- perienced at least once in a growing season • NCDOL is inconsistent in the way it issues by 24% of tobacco workers. In just one day, penalties. workers can absorb the amount of nicotine • NCDOL does not classify violations cor- found in 36 cigarettes. rectly, resulting in incorrect penalties. • NCDOL routinely reduces and/or negoti- Of the more than 150,000 farmworkers in the ates fines downwards. state, less than 20% receive health care. • NCDOL does not focus its inspections on the worst migrant camps. All sources can be found at www.ncfan.org/overview 2 Check out our video on child labor: General Discussion Questions Questions for Faith Communities 1. Put yourself in a farmworker’s shoes. Imag- 1. Put yourself in a farmworker’s shoes. Imag- ine being separated from your family and ine being separated from your family and working 14-hour days in harsh conditions. working 14-hour days in harsh conditions. What would be the hardest thing about this life What would be the hardest thing about this life for you? for you? 2. What did you see in the film that surprised 2. What did you see in the film that surprised you the most? you the most? 3. The filmHarvest of Shame was a Thanks- 3. What role does food play in our faith tradi- giving special. Why do you think that film was tion? Are there important stories, rituals and/or released at Thanksgiving? How do you think traditions that revolve around food? the audience viewed it in light of the holiday? 4. If food has an important role in our faith 4. One of Edward R. Murrow’s goals in 1960 tradition, what are the implications for how the was to make farmworkers more visible. Do you food is produced? think this goal was accomplished? Are farm- workers more visible today than they were 50 5. Does our faith tradition speak directly about years ago? how workers should be treated? 5. What does “harvest of dignity” mean to 6. The Bible has many passages that talk you? about protecting vulnerable agricultural work- ers (see Lev. 23:22, Deut. 24:19, Prov. 13:23, 6. What are some of the challenges of main- Ezek. 22:29, James 5:4). How can people of taining family life for farmworkers? What are faith put these principles into practice today? other challenges related to this work? 7. In the New Testament, the parable of the 7. Farms are exempt from many child labor Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) challenges laws. Today’s child labor laws allow children as us to reconsider our concept of neighbor. How young as 10 to work in the fields for 30 hours does Harvest of Dignity challenge us to recog- a week. Do you think this should be allowed? nize more people in our community as neigh- Why or why not? bors? 8. In the film, Guillermina says: “After the work 8. “Treat others as you would like to be is over, no one remembers the people. Or the treated” is a theme that runs through many children who worked.” Based on your own different faith traditions as a guideline for our values, what does this film call you to do? How relationships with others. In the film, we see will you remember the people and the children farmworkers living and working in deplorable who worked? conditions that we would never choose for ourselves or our families. In what ways can our faith communities put the Golden Rule into action? www.ncfan.org 3 Why do you support workers? Check out our photo gallery of responses: Questions for Students Questions for “Foodies” 1. Put yourself in a farmworker’s shoes.