Dreadful Memories: The Life of Sarah Ogan Gunning, 1910-1983

Born in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky, Gunning suffered a life of bitter poverty which became the fuel for dozens of moving songs about working people, the mines, and the great coal strikes of the twenties and thirties. In Mimi Pickering's 1988 film, Gunning's a cappella roots music is intercut throughout the interviews and archival footage.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• coal
• coalfield
• eastern
• Kentucky
• poverty
• mines
• organized
• labor
• working
• people
• folkstreams
• folkstreamer
• Archie
• Green
• Pete
• Seeger
• laborlore

[PineyBob]

It's hard for those of use who have so very much to realize that a great deal of our good fortune was paid for by the women of appalachia who refused to stand down when the gun thugs came for their husbands. Feminism started when those women toke their kids down on the picket lane and stood in front ot the men so they wouldn't be shot by the gun thugs. God bless them all, we work 40 hours because of them

[buddmar]

I have the profound and limitless respect and admiration for the coal miners and their families. This lady's song is more articulate and more eloquent than a 1,000 page book ... it literally "speaks volumes"!

[PupuTheClown]

Somebody is going to get their ass whooped, I aint mentioning no names or nuthin but they know who they are.

[jenzeppelin]

i just watched this in full on folkstreams. what an amazing woman. so strong, having endured so much. her songs are powerful. this was an extremely moving film.

[usergroupX]

I de rather work in a cole mine than what i do now...... (might sound extreme ,, but it aint't that far off of reality)

[nessamaine]

amazing stories that go on in our country, eh? bless you for posting this...i'll go to the site and watch more... wow. incredibly strong folks...

[sogreekchiclucky13]

SCARY. That's my name.

[lilcwilly2009]

0_O..........ummm....wow.