Frank Johnston
Frank Johnston

Fellowship Title:

  • Faces of the 80s in America, a Nation in Transition

Faces of the 80s

Frank Johnston
February 18, 1984

Fellowship Year

  • 1983

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 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 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.
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.
Every month over 1,600 "illegals" climb through the "Tortilla Curtain" (fence) between Juarez, Mexico, and the U.S. border at El Paso, Texas.
Every month over 1,600 "illegals" climb through the "Tortilla Curtain" (fence) between Juarez, Mexico, and the U.S. border at El Paso, Texas.
Every month over 1,600 "illegals" climb through the "Tortilla Curtain" (fence) between Juarez, Mexico, and the U.S. border at El Paso, Texas.
If illegals are caught in the morning, they then usually are released and are back in Mexico by the afternoon. The next morning the cycle repeats itself, as the illegals try to flee again from the Juarez area across the border.
If illegals are caught in the morning, they then usually are released and are back in Mexico by the afternoon. The next morning the cycle repeats itself, as the illegals try to flee again from the Juarez area across the border.
If illegals are caught in the morning, they then usually are released and are back in Mexico by the afternoon. The next morning the cycle repeats itself, as the illegals try to flee again from the Juarez area across the border.
If illegals are caught in the morning, they then usually are released and are back in Mexico by the afternoon. The next morning the cycle repeats itself, as the illegals try to flee again from the Juarez area across the border.
Illegal scrambles over U.S. border fence.
Illegal scrambles over U.S. border fence.
Looking from El Paso, Texas, across the border towards Juarez, Mexico.
Looking from El Paso, Texas, across the border towards Juarez, Mexico.

©1984 Frank Johnston

Frank Johnston, a photographer on leave from the Washington Post, is documenting the effects of social and economic changes on the American people.

Frank Johnston
Frank Johnston

FELLOWSHIP TITLE

  • Faces of the 80s in America, a Nation in Transition

FELLOWSHIP ARTICLES