Afro-American Work Songs in a Texas Prison

Afro-American Work Songs in a Texas Prison

  • Overview
  • Crew

Status

Released

Release Date

Mar 1, 1966

Runtime

0h 29m

Genres

Documentary

Original Title

Afro-American Work Songs in a Texas Prison

Director

Toshi Seeger

Description

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.