Re: Mythical life expectancy numbers

[Guest guest]

Greg -Thanks for providing this information. "Harvest of Shame" was a marvelous contribution, but, as you remind us, the world of hired farm work is quite different today. If I recall correctly, there were few, if any, Mexican-origin farm workers featured in that documentary.

Warm regards,

Don

At 02:02 PM 12/21/01 -0500, you wrote:

>>>>

> The "49 years life expectancy" for farmworkers comes from the 1960 documentary, "Harvest of Shame," in which it was mentioned by R. Murrow in his description of the litany of problems faced by farmworkers. The documentary does not indicate where it obtained these estimates.

>

> To the extent that this number was ever accurate, it is badly dated, and does not reflect the wholesale changes in the demographics of the farmworker population, not to mention the enormous advances in provision of health services to farmworkers since 1960.

>

> Greg Schell

> Migrant Farmworker Justice Project

> 508 Lucerne Avenue

> Lake Worth, Florida 33460-3819

> (561) 582-3921

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Greg,

You've tracked it down earlier than I remember. I know it was regularly quoted as originating from a Congressional hearing on migrant issues in the 1970s. Actually, I was told it had been made up for that occasion, but again, I have no valid source on that nor can I tell you who's testimony provided the information in the first place.

Alice C. Larson, Ph.D.las@...206-463-9000 (voice)206-463-9400 (fax)P.O. Box 801Vashon Island, WA 98070

----- Original Message -----

From: Greg Schell

Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 11:02 AM

Subject: [ ] Mythical life expectancy numbers

The "49 years life expectancy" for farmworkers comes from the 1960 documentary, "Harvest of Shame," in which it was mentioned by R. Murrow in his description of the litany of problems faced by farmworkers. The documentary does not indicate where it obtained these estimates.

To the extent that this number was ever accurate, it is badly dated, and does not reflect the wholesale changes in the demographics of the farmworker population, not to mention the enormous advances in provision of health services to farmworkers since 1960.

Greg Schell

Migrant Farmworker Justice Project

508 Lucerne Avenue

Lake Worth, Florida 33460-3819

(561) 582-3921