Such an interesting video! Thanks for uploading. I wonder how much of this area at the time was actually as poor as was depicted. I know around this time in the 60s the people of Letcher County were growing upset at the number of film crews descending upon their area depicting the poverty; they felt that the media was only telling one side of the story. One side of my family comes from Letcher County, and nobody ever mentioned to me anything about being too poor for Christmas. That's not to discredit the people in this video; obviously there were plenty in that situation. I'm just wondering if it was as widespread as depicted.
If I'm not badly mistaken, a guy in Letcher County shot a guy who was there to document poverty in the county. I think a film about it was made called "Stranger With a Camera."
Just now found this. Yes all those films and photos by Time and AP were damning of the region. Was meant to be. it was propaganda to drum up support for the democrats welfare programs which Lyndon Johnson announced in Whitesburg. My dad lived on pert creek around this time. He was best friends with one of the Baker boys in the film. As they would have told you not all was as bad as was portrayed. They found the worst conditions they could possibly find to work on emotions. They haven't stopped since, the democrats are masters of it. When my buddies Papaw down Blackey shot the reporter though that was a wake up call to the propagandist to back down.
I live in the western half of Kentucky and seeing these people and knowing that the federal government has sold all of us out makes me extremely angry🧐
this was before my time of birth. It's very heart breaking to see how bad it was back in the 60's... Heck even 2020 it's bad (maybe a little better) I'm just wondering what ever happen to these families? The state should have taken better care of these families. Home come the churches in the state or other states didn't offer to help these people. OMG what a cold heart world we lived in. I'm sure there were charities or/and big companies that could have offer free clothing for everything (Especially the children) What about Medicaid was there any back then that could have offer free services? I would like to know where are they now. Especially the children
We as a country should be ashamed how we force these people to live. No one should live like this. I am related to most of the bakers in whitesburg. The other side of the coin, is many of the Bakers there are lawyers, many have been mayors and police chiefs
You're right. It should not be about pushing education all the time - it should be about creating jobs for regular people. Everyone should be guaranteed a job whether they're super smart or not. I think that's very easily achievable if the gov was serious about it.
@@16mmEducationalFilms yeah, but at least in the ensuing years and several decades, up to the early 1990s, there was an expansion of federal and state support for poor families and public services including education, plus more people left the region to find jobs elsewhere.
@@michaelsladnick5482 Good point - I guess that's what you really have to do is leave the area and go where the jobs are - not fun but you have to do it.
@@16mmEducationalFilms it's a depressing place to live now, even if you have a good job. Visiting friends there (in less isolated parts of Appalachia than featured in this film) I'd see crazier stuff on a regular basis than I ever did living in not-so-good parts of Chicago and New York ... recently I stopped visiting at all because everyone I knew there kept getting more and more anti-social and negative.
@@michaelsladnick5482 Yeah - no reason to be so negative. It's actually not that hard to make a good living in US - just have to be willing and be able to show up on time.
Solution : FREE Vasectomies & Tubal ligations for all 13 yr olds and older. AND Immediate & automatic wage garnishment from fathers not married, or not living with their children.
Then the fathers just don't work....Some fathers are so mean and evil that they will literally not work in order to not have to pay child support. And, yeah, good idea on sterilization of children.
I don't know how you come to have these, but thank you for taking the time to share them on here.
You're welcome
@@16mmEducationalFilms 😀
I love this video! I lived on Pert Creek as a child.in 1974 to 1980. We lived just down the hill from here.
I would have loved to shown this to my Daddy, Jimmy Holbrook. Anyone know of the Holbrook's?
I WATCHED THIS VIDEO BEFORE. EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE CHRISTMAS. I HOPE THINGS HAVE CHANGED. REALLY MISS CHARLES KURALT +
Such an interesting video! Thanks for uploading.
I wonder how much of this area at the time was actually as poor as was depicted. I know around this time in the 60s the people of Letcher County were growing upset at the number of film crews descending upon their area depicting the poverty; they felt that the media was only telling one side of the story.
One side of my family comes from Letcher County, and nobody ever mentioned to me anything about being too poor for Christmas. That's not to discredit the people in this video; obviously there were plenty in that situation. I'm just wondering if it was as widespread as depicted.
Sometimes the media exaggerates negative news - just sometimes. Could have happened a little back then too.
If I'm not badly mistaken, a guy in Letcher County shot a guy who was there to document poverty in the county. I think a film about it was made called "Stranger With a Camera."
Just now found this. Yes all those films and photos by Time and AP were damning of the region.
Was meant to be.
it was propaganda to drum up support for the democrats welfare programs which Lyndon Johnson announced in Whitesburg.
My dad lived on pert creek around this time. He was best friends with one of the Baker boys in the film.
As they would have told you not all was as bad as was portrayed.
They found the worst conditions they could possibly find to work on emotions.
They haven't stopped since, the democrats are masters of it.
When my buddies Papaw down Blackey shot the reporter though that was a wake up call to the propagandist to back down.
I live in the western half of Kentucky and seeing these people and knowing that the federal government has sold all of us out makes me extremely angry🧐
You're right.
Materially impoverished,
Spiritually wealthy.
I love this place born and raised in pike co just sad that we’d have to move off to get jobs thanks for sharing
This is my hometown
That's cool :)
My family is also Adams from Letcher.
The rest of rural US is starting down this road as well. "Free" trade = socialism for the rich, capitalism for the rest of us.
I live in the western side of Kentucky and it won't be long and we'll be in this shape.
this was before my time of birth. It's very heart breaking to see how bad it was back in the 60's... Heck even 2020 it's bad (maybe a little better) I'm just wondering what ever happen to these families? The state should have taken better care of these families. Home come the churches in the state or other states didn't offer to help these people. OMG what a cold heart world we lived in. I'm sure there were charities or/and big companies that could have offer free clothing for everything (Especially the children) What about Medicaid was there any back then that could have offer free services? I would like to know where are they now. Especially the children
"Hes too poor to leave, and shes too kind to make him." 😂
My wife’s family lives there...l love it there way better than living in the city
What city do you live in?
Sergent here anyone know my family?
My grandmas maiden name. She grew up in Letcher County
We as a country should be ashamed how we force these people to live. No one should live like this. I am related to most of the bakers in whitesburg. The other side of the coin, is many of the Bakers there are lawyers, many have been mayors and police chiefs
You're right. It should not be about pushing education all the time - it should be about creating jobs for regular people. Everyone should be guaranteed a job whether they're super smart or not. I think that's very easily achievable if the gov was serious about it.
I feel bad for them, but $56 was a lot of money then for food stamps. Why couldn't they sew their clothes so they could go to school?
takes cloth, thread and buttons. They all cost money.
You never know what goes on behind closed doors, poverty.
Yankee reconstruction never ended. We're being manipulated as we speak. Sad what we've allowed. God Bless.
Those were the worst years for the region, although at least they didn't have the drugs and the Fox News like now.
When big industry leaves, it's never good - like Youngstown Ohio or Flint Michigan
@@16mmEducationalFilms yeah, but at least in the ensuing years and several decades, up to the early 1990s, there was an expansion of federal and state support for poor families and public services including education, plus more people left the region to find jobs elsewhere.
@@michaelsladnick5482 Good point - I guess that's what you really have to do is leave the area and go where the jobs are - not fun but you have to do it.
@@16mmEducationalFilms it's a depressing place to live now, even if you have a good job. Visiting friends there (in less isolated parts of Appalachia than featured in this film) I'd see crazier stuff on a regular basis than I ever did living in not-so-good parts of Chicago and New York ... recently I stopped visiting at all because everyone I knew there kept getting more and more anti-social and negative.
@@michaelsladnick5482 Yeah - no reason to be so negative. It's actually not that hard to make a good living in US - just have to be willing and be able to show up on time.
Solution : FREE Vasectomies & Tubal ligations for all 13 yr olds and older. AND Immediate & automatic wage garnishment from fathers not married, or not living with their children.
Man that sounds allot like fascism🤔
Then the fathers just don't work....Some fathers are so mean and evil that they will literally not work in order to not have to pay child support. And, yeah, good idea on sterilization of children.
If they have nothing you get nothing except debters prison. And body altering surgeries at 13? You are a sick puppy. May God have mercy on your soul.