Bill Moyers on Woody Guthrie

Lessons on Democracy: Is This Land Made For You And Me?

In this short web essay, Bill Moyers celebrates the life and message of Woody Guthrie upon what would have been his 100th birthday, also marking the creation of a center in Tulsa housing his letters, writings, lyrics, and more. 

Type of video resource: Video Essay
Program title: Moyers & Company
Segment title: Lessons on Democracy from Woody Guthrie
Original air date: January 13, 2012
Length: 4:46

Detailed description: In celebrating Woody Guthrie's 100th birthday and a new center in Tulsa dedicated to his work, Bill Moyers examines Guthrie's past and the continued importance of his words.  Inspired by the famous "This Land Is Your Land," Moyers argues that America is becoming less and less a "land for you and me."  A crumbling infrastructure thanks to lack of collaboration, constantly increasing income inequality, and the tendency of the rich to amass land and resources, act as proof that modern America does not belong to the working class people Guthrie admired.  Whether in regard to the Oklahoma Dust Bowl of the 1930s or the forgotten poor and collapsing middle class of today, Woody Guthrie's words continue to carry weight and ring true.

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This video was created for BillMoyers.com by Moyers & Company.