Afro-American Work Songs in a Texas Prison (1966) Documental

Pete Seeger y Toshi Seeger, su hijo Daniel, y el folkorista Bruce Jackson visitaron una prisión de Texas en Huntsville, en marzo de 1966 y produjo este raro documento de canciones de trabajo de los internos de la Unidad Ellis. Estos cantos de trabajo ayudaron a los prisioneros afro-americanos a sobrevivir al intenso trabajo que se les exigia. Con la mecanización y la integración,los cantos de trabajo como estos se extinguieron poco después de esta película fue filmada.

[@debraengholm9820]

It hurts my soul the way these people were treated, but their music touches hearts.

[@elli003]

You don't even know what crimes they were convicted for, and you're giving them a social pass like they were the victim.

[@Fat_bastard77]

It also touches your ass

[@jonathandoelander6130]

@@elli003 Most of these guys (not all) but MOST were picked up for B.S. charges like "vagrancy," meaning they were turned down when they applied for work and as a result were standing around outside instead of hiding in their houses all day long. The work they were forced to do in mass made their new slave masters rich. *On the other hand whites were very seldom picked up on vagrancy charges even though they might have been standing around in the exact same area on the other side of the street.*

[@elli003]

@@jonathandoelander6130 You don't know what you're talking about. I was born in Houston in 1956, I live 70 miles South of Huntsville, Tx where there are 5 State Prison Correctional Facilities for men depicted in the film above. I witnessed white clothed 'P' farmers along hwy 90A in Sugarland, TX during the early 1960's too. This was a common site for travelers and commuters alike. To the intellectual dilettante and ne'r-do-wells that like to project social issues for which they know nothing about, the State of Texas did not enrich itself on human labor as some states like Mississippi. Oil and Agriculture enriched this state over all others as the even the consideration of such a ploy was rebuked in the state legislature.

[@jonathandoelander6130]

@@elli003 On PAPER Texas may have had better laws than Mississippi and Alabama, but did NOBODY really ever make money here? Or is that just your assumption because the laws said so? The law says a lot of things that aren't carried out to the letter.

[@DennisRash]

Those are some bloody dull axes. Respect to their hard work and music!

[@estebanjaramiranda9099]

The best music.

[@JJ-lu2pl]

⏯️

[@AtyPical1313]

Alan Lomax recorded many songs that would have been lost if not for him.

[@emmaphilo4049]

Very important work indeed

[@AtyPical1313]

@@emmaphilo4049 I am so glad someone cared enough to record Music that otherwise we would never have heard.

[@moneyshot239]

So sad to watch. I did a year cutting trees for a year in prison. For free. It makes me think of this days an to get myself back together an remember how hard life was for me.

[@damianvelazquez6103]

So sorry for you men 😢 🙏

[@darwinaguilera2168]

Sorprendente lo que vivieron nuestros hermanos esclavos, era un mundo oscuro el cual con sus cantos lo llenaban de luz todo a sus alrededor, no al racismo, todo somos iguales con pequeñas diferencias en posición económica pero todos tenemos un corazón un alma por qué tanta humillación por qué tanta maldad y denigración hoy en día tenemos que demostrar al mundo que todos somos iguales ya basta de maldad

[@MirnaTorreszuniga-ze1ek]

No son esclavos,son prisioneros en este caso afroamericanos que mientras trabajaban entonaban esos cantos lo cual hace más llevadero el trabajo y la pena,en algunas culturas se canta mientras se trabaja ello ayuda a mantener la concentración y evitar el agotamiento

[@moneyshot239]

We came from slavery.we are seed of the American slaves this is modern day slavery in the prison system. We are not evil. White American has history of violence..we don't if u look at History. Blacks starting getting in trouble once the government filled out community with drugs guns an less opportunity to make a change

[@fnsilly8983]

By the american constitution of the 13th amendment, involuntary servitude is used as a punishment for crime. Also known as slavery. So they are slaves.​@MirnaTorreszuniga-ze1ek

[@louise-yo7kz]

May the Lord bless their soul

[@oreally8605]

"Save" their souls.

[@icecastles1432]

I bet some of those guards were mean as hell. Why are they wearing white for field work ? Felling an tree is hard labour . Wonder how these souls turned out. Good Will 🌎 I know its wrong but I love the music of these men. The singing. its devastatingly beautiful.

[@Woden23]

They are wearing white i believe for radiating heat from the Sun, Besides if someone escapes is more Easy to find in the Woods.

[@CamRebires]

Nothing wrong with liking the music

[@texasking6830]

Its texas. Prisoners wear white

[@tamaracolbert1435]

Nothing wrong with liking these songs,i think its wrong not to like em.this is the greatest music no doubt because its straight from the soul how can u not like it .i know its suffering that brings it out but god look at just how were equipped.when the going gets the tough get going.just when you thought you was at the end of your rope ,there you find another gear that gets you on through the trouble at hand.we got to thank God.i not only like this music i also respect,honor and revere this music because its some mighty great,bold,tender and strong music that is timeless because its all heart .God Bless~Duane Colbert~

[@ChopinIsMyBestFriend]

its hot brotha

[@adammontgomery7980]

Imagine how strong these guys were.

[@yungone21atx20]

right man they just singing ant cutting down trees 😂

[@doblefilonoticias]

La música que salía desde el alma. Música para resistir.

[@takanabe379]

it proove how music is a strong force between god and us

[@Fat_bastard77]

Right after he recorded blues train blues

[@privatesnowball3032]

These songs are on an album called "Wake Up Dead Man: Black Convict Worksongs from Texas Prisons" the first song is called "Hammer Ring." This album is what you need after working a real long hard day.

[@altdelet3778]

Beautiful but heartbreaking 😢

[@jeffmccormick6382]

This still goes on today what are you talking about? Ever herd of Maricopa County chain gang?

[@christymaxwelt934]

God gave my “people “ A Song that the Angels Can Not Sing We been washed in the “Blood “ of the “Crucified” One. We Have Been “Redeemed” 🙏🏾🙏🏾 Trouble Don’t Last Always 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@damianvelazquez6103]

Beautiful words! They come to me at the right time, I am going through a deep depression, I honestly have little desire to live, and your message reached my soul, it is very likely that I will never meet you, but thank you from the depths of my being. Sorry, English is not my first language. "Trouble don't Last Always". ❤

[@eileenfinnan8374]

Well if U say so !nice sentimental words BUT in the meantime BS pity the poooor blick is getting on all decent people's nerves ! Actions speak louder than words and simple actions are more impactful than Al the sentiments rhetoric spouted from time immemorial to the present Day ! U have turned these despised nation in2 maudlin mire appeased pussies species. They were strong once and could take the rejection dished fer no reasons even them that saw their strength poached it in Change for STFU or else tactics to the world CMON BLICKS GET YAS HEADS AND YA REAL SELFS BACK INTO THE REALITY ZONE AGAIN. SO ! THEY Despise AND REJECT ! WHO ARE THESE LOWLIFES GRANDELLUSIONISTS ANYWAY ! STAND UP AGAIN AS TRUE !

[@sford2044]

This is the rydym to the best army cadence.

[@paparage2.027]

many of these songs became big hits on the charts during the decades... One such, 'BLACK BETTY'....

[@thebarrelage]

It hurts that those who made the beautiful sounds never got a penny.

[@kaecake9575]

The roots of Rock n Roll 👍

[@ninasica103]

I hope that a good charitable person will take the time to share the title of the songs in the documentary.

[@rafaval1162]

i'm studying this music to understand the jazz

[@emsnewssupkis6453]

50 years ago, I had a dear friend who was very black who grew up in Georgia in the pine forests and his family made money felling pine trees this way, for turpentine production. They sang songs and whacked with a rhythm just like this, when I worked with him putting on roofs on houses, he sang these songs as we whacked away. This sort of work and songs wasn't just for prisoners.

[@capenmi]

You’re an idiot if you think your comment has any value

[@adammontgomery7980]

People forget life used to be really hard.

[@cassadyfr]

THANK YOU .

[@preciousmousse]

What's the name of the first song? It seems that's where Moby took his "Natural Blues" from update: there's a recording by Alan Lomax of it sung by Dock Reed, Henry Reed and Vera Hall "Trouble So Hard". The one in this video seems a little different, but it sounds like it's a variant of the same song

[@bobbysledge2290]

Let your hammer ring.

[@fnsilly8983]

Hammer ring

[@gabbianella82]

Could you tell me the name of the second and the third song?

[@tamaracolbert1435]

Let your hammer ring is the first song grizzly bear is the second song and i dont the name of third but ohh its ringing my soul,i love it and second song as well the first song.good ear you have .~Duane Colbert

[@jackiedaytona9029]

@@tamaracolbert1435 Thank you!!!

[@GermanGonzalez-qj4lr]

Hi, Has someone the lyrics of these song? I'll appreciate a lot

[@yeceniacuesta5648]

esta chévere la música

[@edwards99]

To go all day like this in Texas heat. Damn. These men must've had muscles like steel cables. They ain't big like weight lifters, but ain't one of them fat.

[@matthewjacksonjr.4353]

Does anyone know what the song is called?

[@oldpossum57]

The 14th amendment outlawed slavery, except in the prison system. Prisoners can be forced to work for paltry wages, thus a cheaper workforce than the local tax payers who pay for the prison. Prison businesses make the. Profits. Also, prisoners maybe coerced into work by the gangs that operate within the prison, earning money to pay for protection against gang violence.

[@yssunjoko]

I hope they were fed well despite severe punishment

[@oreally8605]

Yeah, because they were all innocent. Every single one. Picked up for spitting on the sidewalk in front of their houses. 😅

[@jonathandoelander6130]

It seems strange that while the announcer at the beginning of the clip seems to be going through great lengths to establish that the prison system was improved and progressive that ALL of the working inmates were still black.

[@sevatar5762]

This was filmed in 1966 so was considered “progressive” by the standards of the day, considering (Like the narrator says) this same job was basically a death sentence for the generations of prisoners that went before them.

[@rachelholtzman6978]

Nothing wrong with segregated prisons, there are white chain gangs but they got no rythm. Prisons need to be segregated to prevent race riots and interacial violence.

[@nicomoist5336]

@@rachelholtzman6978 okay racist segregationist

[@josegil1739]

my soul and heart be with you all for eternity under the dark clouds Albeit I quite understand a bit of Quenn English and feel the blues since birth, I struggle with pidgin. créoles and regional accents as those in Wales and ailleurs, if ye know wot I mean ¿Where could the feckin hell may I obtain the lyrics? gracias j

[@damianvelazquez6103]

14:22 and 6:50 Name songs? Please! Thank you

[@Woden23]

Down by the riverside

[@Kp-qj3ms]

@@Woden23 thx

[@eileenfinnan8374]

Dya think they was given them pristine whites to look good fer the filming session ?! Or was that real ?! Answers please?

[@thomasschultz7770]

If prisoners still worked like this, they would enjoy passing the time more than sitting in a cage.

[@jeffmccormick6382]

Most people in prison have jobs

[@Street.Melody]

Se desahogaban con estas musicas de trabajo

[@eltonw.ssimmons8146]

The Tell Her Phone part🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤😂

[@ArturoFlores-lm5sh]

All the stuff un the mando of Freedom

[@updownstate]

Most of these men did not live to go home. They were worked to death on starvation rations.

[@kellygreen9291]

Back then it was required 2xs a day and the songs are a rhythm to hold your swing so u don't hit. The next person . Today's fields squads write me up I will take that case

[@justinsanton9622]

Put it on 2x speed. Thank me later ...The remix

[@powerliftingandstrongman1065]

Does anybody know the song at 6,49 ?

[@FaH-Q]

Ellis is 12,000 Acre unit

[@curtisbeard4550]

My name is Curtis. Anyone who has had experiences at Columbia training school in the late 60's Arthur G Dozier school in the 60"s. Please contact me with your stories. I'm not good at texting on my phone, but I'm okay on my computer. Contact [e-mail]

[@curtisbeard4550]

Is this Ellis 1 or 2? Ellis 2 was renamed the Estelle Unit. I was in prison in Texas from 1980 until 2028. Started out at Ramsey 1. I've been all over Texas prisons. Red rider, Captain Henderson, made me his clerk... not because I told him what inmates were doing, but because I threw my Aggie in the air and asked the field boss if that was high enough for him. When you first go into prison, they brainwash you. They couldn't do that with me.

[@jf5245]

@@curtisbeard4550 You know Leeandra Larry? Ol Lord, Wildcat, Big Bear?

[@AP-xq3jm]

Guards murdered many men there.

[@ProfSlower]

tutti qui a causa del libro di storia

[@davidsprague-zs6gr]

I guarantee that these guys are trustees that won't be chained together

[@natewatl9423]

You are mistaken, amigo, says this Tejano who knows the system.

[@raykelley5699]

We even work as slaves on beat😂😂😂

[@Street.Melody]

Asi empezo el hip hop

[@elsonidodelronco]

What's the name of first song please?

[@marcinboguslaw6956]

It's "Hammer ring"

[@elsonidodelronco]

@@marcinboguslaw6956 Thank you from spain!

[@Alex-uy7pc]

Back when they would work!

[@quorediem-bandasonora-soun3366]

❤🙏🎶

[@AndrewAsserson-li4su]

Wow they had it so much better than I do

[@martincruz6042]

Pa q ritmo perfecto

[@jessicagardner5468]

SUBTITULOS POR FAVOR!:(

[@irvingmendezlira5499]

Hola, lograste encontrarlo subtitulado en algún lugar?

[@hdomosquera5145]

Aprenda ingles

[@bigjay7276]

Deuteronomy 28:33 KJV.

[@BlackPanther-om3dz]

thirteenth amendment

[@louise-yo7kz]

☹

[@eltonw.ssimmons8146]

Temptation

[@spumki7784]

¡Qué puto ritmazo!

[@gunitundaboss2404]

Og Percy that u

[@gaelperez7049]

Puta rolota como se llama

[@juhichawalakeita2743]

Je fais un grand hommage à tous les africans colonisé, torturé, tromatisé par ses blancs. Je suis moi même africaine et cela me fait pleurer de voir cette violance impardonnable. Reposer en paix insha'allah mes arrière arrière arrière ......... arrière grands parents 😿

[@lenigonzalez6547]

thank you for you comment :)

[@silvialai5905]

ciao

[@mom2adragon677]

I lived in a prison in Texas in 1966! I have to say, it was wonderful for me but I wasn’t a prisoner!

[@capenmi]

And you white. Think about that

[@edwardmiller9611]

Much better there than in a Soviet Gulag or in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp.

[@deshlock03]

So many ignorant comments lol... These poor people... oh the treatment . And assuming they had " BS " Charges as a few idiots said. Really? That's your argument?

[@Jtfreeze17]

It’s the truth all it takes is a couple hours worth of research to figure out especially in the south during the 20s 30s 40s 50s and early 60s Black people were being thrown into prison for little to no reason look up the book Mississippi black papers Black people, writing letters to the NCAA P and the NCAA P writing letter city, FBI to investigate race crimes in Georgia Stories of black men walking down the side of the road to work, literally getting pulled up on by police officers, thrown into the back of the car, and being forced to confess crimes, they never even heard, or knew about, and being beaten if they gave them back, any sass….. many many many cases of Negroes, being thrown in jail, for no crimes during the civil rights movement in the early days in Mississippi if you even were heard of being part of it, you would get rocks or brick thrown through your window, and in many cases, if they call the policethey would end up getting arrested on false charges

[@beejohn1016]

This gets me SO MAD ! ..IM CRYING ....I'm in a interracial relationship ....she is the reason why I'm not in jail or dead........

[@caballopalido]

ALL INNOCENT MEN WITH GOOD VALUES. ITS A SHAME THERE IS A CONSPIRACY AGAINST BAD VALUES AND BEHAVIOR

[@caballopalido]

HORRIBLE WORKERS. all standing. notice how it takes like 9500 of them to fell a tree???

[@caballopalido]

they're literally just goofing off playing around not working. excellent people

[@markbecker71]

Very progressive 👏

[@michaeljimenez9611]

White folks on welding, Mexicans on brick n blacks on the ax.. in tx prisons at that time...

[@panamablack9671]

And we're still rocking on it.

[@BjarneMarcussen]

They need to work. They ain't there for a vacation. Need to pay for their crimes. Inmates today have it to easy. They need to do what these inmates are doing.

[@admiralnelson655]

I dont know how to feel here... they did horrible things that got then to where they are... but their music is FLAMES... hmmmmmm...

[@DeeDee-hx1km]

It was 1966 who knows how they’d gotten there

[@ingwerschorle_]

they probably didn't. most inmates, especially then but even today, are in there for victimless crimes, today it's harmless stuff like smoking weed, back then it was breaking segregation or something even more minute.

[@capenmi]

You are a racist idiot if you think the reason these brothers were in prison is because they were properly charged, tried and convicted of a crime.

[@fernandobernabegarcia6491]

Vengo por franco escamilla

[@gall6881]

why does it hurt your soul when criminal have to work you soul should hurt for their victims

[@AnthonyMcfhail-jm7hj]

The problem is we never see whites pay for their crimes only. Black people

[@jedininja3603]

Critical Race Theory

[@nolieswithblueeyes]

I wonder what consists of 12 hours standing on the rail....sounds scary todays prisoners wouldve got beat up trying to kick a freestyle and rap around these guys.Todays inmates are really soft compared to these guys!!

[@curtisbeard4550]

I was 25. I worked the fields until I was 50. So much for white privilege.

[@curtisbeard4550]

If you've never experienced a war, you aren't from this planet. Under your reasoning, none of the things in this video exists because you haven't experienced them. I have...yet the video shows black inmates slaving while ignoring the whites and Hispanics who slave in the prisons of Texas.

[@midnightwriter9658]

.. spent a few years myself in the fields on Eastham and Ramsey... and to your point, so much for white privilege... much respect... 👍

[@midnightwriter9658]

@@curtisbeard4550 .. 100% true ... been there; experienced and saw it myself....

[@grantarcher788]

@@curtisbeard4550 Their experience is just as valid as yours. What we need is a record of suffering like yours as well and the suffering of your white and hispanic brothers too - not to put down or ignore the documentation of these people's suffering - but to acknowledge yours. Such struggles don't exist when they are forgotten. When there is nothing left to remind us, we forget what we've done to other people and why. I hope life for you is easier now. Even just for a little while.

[@jonathandoelander6130]

*Where you better off than the Black people who were working the fields?* Could you vote? Could you walk on any side of town you wanted? Were you called names and made fun of because of your race? Were you a prisoner, like the men in this video? Just because you worked in a field doesn't mean you didn't have certain privileges because you were white.

[@eolemarin]

The work they do looks so useless

[@rachelholtzman6978]

This is what a true correctional facility is supposed to be instead of sitting around your cell all day getting raped. This is what prison should be like in every damn state. Eff the criminal justice reform soft on crime crap. You do the crime , you do the time.

[@mikehart5593]

Shut yo dumbass up!! 🖕🏿

[@JRGilly6694]

Says the privileged white girl

[@capenmi]

Stop looking for attention on the internet, Karen…

[@tubemagpie]

There was a time , in the UK, when you were sent to prison to receive your punishment and not as a punishment. However we should be aware, very aware, that in this case many (not all) of THESE people were probably in prison simply because of the colour of their skin. That is unjust.

[@jeffmccormick6382]

Ignorance is bliss

[@Moedy101]

Sooo, what kind of crimes did they commit?

[@cjamonwilliams]

Critical Race Theory