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

Pete and Toshi Seeger, their son Daniel, and folklorist Bruce Jackson visited a Texas prison in Huntsville in March of 1966 and produced this rare document of of work songs by inmates of the Ellis Unit. Worksongs helped African American prisoners survive the grueling work demanded of them. With mechanization and integration, worksongs like these died out shortly after this film was made.

Released

1966-03-01

Genres

Documentary

Runtime

29 min

Status

Released

Directed / written by

Pete Seeger, Toshi Seeger, Daniel Seeger