Sit Down and Fight

Gr 9 Up—The 1900s was "America's Century" for a number of reasons, not the least being our incredible ability to be the world's most prolific manufacturing center in history. And no product has been more closely associated with our culture than our automobiles. This brilliant documentary portrays the auto industry workers' tough battle to unionize during the lean years of the Great Depression and propel the major manufacturers to the positions of prominence they once (and might again) enjoy. The story focuses on Walter Reuther, who rose through the ranks to lead the United Auto Workers in their head-to-head confrontations with the giants of American manufacturing from the post-war boom to his death in a plane crash in 1970. This title is truly a work of oral and visual history in that it utilizes an incredible collection of vintage film footage, stills, audio recordings of Reuther's radio speeches, and a rousing selection of union songs. But the most intriguing component is the contemporary interviews with rank-and-file union members who share their stories and recollections. Younger viewers will be struck by the degree of courage shown by the union organizers and general membership, especially in light of the amount of violence with which they were met in their campaigns. The film is divided into five-segments, and chapter selection is optional. Sure to be a favorite in classrooms and for individual research and personal enjoyment.—Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL