Legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow was the first hero in the history of American broadcasting, a distinguished reporter who forever set the industry gold standard through his unparalleled courage, integrity, and newsgathering excellence. From his electrifying WWII frontline coverage to his once-in-a-lifetime interviews with 20th century icons John F. Kennedy, Louis Armstrong and Fidel Castro, among others, Murrow understood the spellbinding beauty and power of the spoken word, and television would forever be indebted to his unique contributions.

Murrow’s documentary HARVEST OF SHAME is among the most famous television documentaries of all time. The long-acclaimed 1960 exposé on the plight of migrant farm workers resonated deeply for a nation unfamiliar with such brutally honest depictions of living conditions that, as Murrow remarks, “wrong the dignity of man.” Televised the day after Thanksgiving, Murrow’s classic led to permanent changes in the laws protecting workers’ rights.

Now, 50 years later, farm and poultry work are still some of the most difficult, most dangerous, and most important work in our community. Largely a Latino population of migrants from Mexico and Central America, these workers still face poverty, food insecurity, hazardous working conditions and few protections under the law.

North Carolina is home to roughly 150,000 farmworkers and 28,000 poultry workers and their families.
The vast majority of the fruits and vegetables and nearly all of the poultry we eat are picked or processed by hand. However, the people who feed our families through their hard work are often among the worst paid and least protected workers in our state.

Using documentary photos and interviews done by Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF) interns, film footage with North Carolina farmworkers, legislators and educators, and clips from the original HARVEST OF SHAME documentary, HARVEST OF DIGNITY focuses on safe places to live, safe places to work, education, and stronger enforcement of workplace laws. This program was funded by the North Carolina Arts Council and Oxfam America.

To view the film on line, please
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