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Harlan County USA: Fifty years later
49 minutes Posted Oct 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm.
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This month marks 50 years since the premiere of "Harlan County USA."
The Academy Award-winning documentary film shined a light on an eastern Kentucky coal mining community and its fight for a union contract. Today, we hear from director Barbara Kopple, others on the crew, and the miners themselves to talk about the documentary’s lasting impact. From our partners at the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, we present Harlan County USA at 50.
This episode was produced in coordination with the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom.