This seemed like a good time to post this, considering all the work being done to establish a union at Western New Mexico University:
The seldom seen and controversial independent film, Salt of the Earth, will be screened at Albuquerque’s Guild Cinema on May 1-4, accompanied by panel discussions and more. If you’ve never seen this movie, you’ve missed an important, powerful film. If you have, this is a good chance to see it again in the company of other good people.
Filmed in New Mexico in 1953-54, during the height of Senator McCarthy’s witch hunt, Salt of the Earth is an earthy and factual look at union action in the face of a mining company’s brutal treatment of its Hispanic workers. Rare for its time, the movie takes a pro-feminist tack in highlighting the courage of women on the picket lines. It’s based on actual events at a 1951 miners’ strike against Empire Zinc that took place in Bayard, near Silver City, NM. Many strike participants acted in various roles in the film.
From Democracy for New Mexico.
Richard Peterson
“Salt” is a remarkable film, but it takes plenty of liberties. For example, there is a scene where one of the workers has a picture of Benito Juarez on the wall. I wonder if that was the case? Remember, many (if not most) of these employees were veterans of WWII, and if they had anyone’s picture up, it was probably FDR’s. In truth, however, it was the role of the women on the picket line and their liberation that has made the film so recognized today…and probably not the labor struggle itself.