Frank Johnston
- 1983
Fellowship Title:
- Faces of the 80s in America, a Nation in Transition
Fellowship Year:
- 1983
Faces of the 80s
Photographs and Text By Frank Johnston Women have been working in the coal mines for approximately a decade. Chellene Koon, 26, and her fellow workers have just completed the night shift at Blacksville #1 Coal Mine near Rivesville, West Virginia. Chellene has worked as a deep miner for six years to support her daughter Jolene, age 8. Chellene can be seen in these photographs relaxing at home with Jolene and their dog Mollie and displaying a portrait of herself painted by her brother. Chellene can be seen in these photographs relaxing at home with Jolene and their dog Mollie and displaying a portrait of herself painted by her brother. America, A Nation in Transition America’s borders are protected against illegal alien entry by the U.S. Border Patrol. They patrol 8,000 miles of land and water boundary. During a recent year they apprehended over 800,000 persons who were found to be deportable aliens. Every month over 1,600 “illegals” climb through the “Tortilla Curtain” (fence) between Juarez, Mexico, and the U.S. border at El Paso, Texas.
A Nation In Transition…Farming
Lou Thiel, 46, a college graduate and second generation potato farmer from Idaho Falls, Idaho, believes that “farming is a poor business but a great way of life.” Thiel is worried about skyrocketing costs–a piece of equipment bought for $2,600 eight years ago cost $13,200 to replace this year. Thiel attributes his success to market skills, special irrigation techniques, and knowing how to raise a quality crop. Many farmers say the drought in the Summer of 1983 was the worst in 50 years. Wilbur Burton (upper left and right), a Virginia farmer with 850 acres, lost 80 percent of his corn crop. Agricultural officials predicted drought-related losses of $200 million for Virginia farmers alone. Across the nation, food prices are predicted to rise as the drought takes its toll. Farms are becoming more mechanized. Dairy farmers use computers to monitor the amount of food consumed by their cows. The cows line up to eat in a particular stall. They wear special collars which use sensors to record how much food each animal has eaten. The
Faces of the 80s America, A Nation in Transition
Frank Williams collects donations for the “Temple of Lost Sheep” in New York City. Unemployed workers wait at Detroit unemployment office. Ray Lugo and daughter Christal at Unemployment Crisis Center in Flint, Mich. Mitch Snyder protests “Reaganomics” across the street from the White House. Unemployed auto worker waits for check at unemployment office in Detroit. Earl Brown, 5 1/2, gets free meal at the New Mt. Calvary Church food kitchen in Flint, Mich. Unemployed man with belongings across street from the State Department. Homeless man wanders past White House. Detroit Detroit, America’s “Motor City,” has been forced to deal with the harsh realities of changing times. Bad times were evident in the faces of those hardest hit–the unemployed auto workers. In the long unemployment lines, the talk was of troubles at home: separations and divorces. One unemployed father confided that his wife had “split,” leaving him to raise their children, all under the age of four. Others routinely sell their blood plasma to the West Detroit Plasma Corp. (Johnston12.jpg) It was there that I met