The Boom and Bust of Texas Oil Towns | VOCES Shorts | PBS

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In this autobiographical short film, a filmmaker returns to her hometown of Denver City in West Texas to document how the boom or bust nature of the town’s main industry - oil - fuels the life of the town. An intimate portrait of family, memory, and economy.
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#shortdocumentary #texas #oilindustry #latinoamerica
Produced by ‪@LPBMedia‬, the acclaimed PBS documentary series VOCES features the best of Latino arts, culture and history and shines a light on current issues that impact Latino Americans. Devoted to exploring the rich diversity of the Latino experience, VOCES presents new and established filmmakers and brings their powerful and illuminating stories to a national audience.

[@arathh19]

This is my hometown! Kinda glad to see it get some coverage. Makes me equally proud and sad to see it. Just like the video pointed out, growing up I noticed my friends coming and going with the booms and busts.
I don't live there anymore, but I still see myself in these people. Always remember where you come from, but also remember that that's not all your destined for. Small town, big dreams, one love.

[@maymays01]

🥹

[@kevinj2261]

yeah, great report. I love the way she make this report too-- through phone call, refreshing. People of Denvor city TX are kind of lucky comparing to coal mine town

[@AnthemUnanthemed]

Company towns should be illegal, these horrible practices in such a mismanaged and broken system need to change, the fact that the whole united states economy is basically the same thing is also worrying.
Its also scary seeing how deep this has an effect and how much people feel mismanaged that they thank the systems that keep this behavior up just so they can seemingly feel like they can continue to survive.
Big oil and all these other horrifyingly unjust industries need to be held accountable for what they have done, and systems need to be implemented so this never happens again!
Edit: I wonder what the cancer rates for that town is

[@thor1063]

I live in the area , it’s not a company town , just in a bad location there’s no reason to go there

[@Syres20]

Great report.

[@jamesonpace726]

Lived in a coal town for a while - exactly the same thing, sadly....

[@bobblack2223]

Born and raised in Denver City. I started working in the oil field in 1973 when Atlantic Richfield, Shell, Mobil, Amoco, Texas Pacific Oil, Texaco and Conoco operated different parts of the oil field there. Now OXY has bought probably 80% of the production here and have broke almost all of the local contractors. The ones that remain have to pay lower wages to be able to compete for the business. Although I still live here I haven't worked here since 1995. I was able to learn what I needed to know to go on the road chasing construction jobs in Alaska, North Dakota, Wyoming and even a project in Russia. The leadership in this town has no one with any vision of what this town will become when the oil runs out. Taxes are high and you get nothing back from any government entity for what you pay. I have bought a retirement home 300 miles east of here and will be leaving within the next couple of months.

[@freedomvideo995]

Was born in local small hospital but lived out in the oil field at a “camp”. West Texas Panhandle. 1950 Cedar Lake. Close to Lamesa. Quanah Parker fought the US Calvary there! At Cedar Point. Its a dry alkaline lake. Quick sand abounds!

[@timsimmons5190]

He a trucker. It's no issue for him to had find something else to do. Might not like it but its truck jobs

[@Copesthetic-Aesthetic]

"Small"
Oil towns, coal towns, mill towns, manufacturing towns are all subject to change.
When the community relies on a single company for it's existence.
Tyson's in Iowa.
Same thing.
They fired everyone.
Moved the jobs to "Texas" for lower taxes, and to be closer to their employees port of entry.
They preferred to hire refugees, migrants, and recently released convicts.
Because their wages are subsidized by our tax dollars.

[@rickyjett675]

Somebody gotta do it!

[@jimmycain8669]

Been in the oil fields all my life. The crappier the place the better the money. When you finally get used to a spot it’s off to the next one.

[@thor1063]

Lived in the area my whole life , my family were also some of the original members of the town when oil was first discovered . Denver city mostly suffers from being in a bad location and if you notice I might have seen one white person in the video because we have all moved away , it’s shocking to drive through it and see how dilapidated it is compared to Seminole 20 minutes away .

[@beautiful80sladies22]

I am from the city and see crazy drivers....city ain't got nothing on how oil workers drive.....when it's booming...in a dam hurry to make that 💰

[@cryptomnesiagirl]

No lie!

[@luiscalzadilla5028]

That happens so often
Ppl simply don't prepare for it. It's either feast or famine.

[@adamgoof]

Gotta live on your means don't spend too much money

[@andrediaz392]

2:33 Denver city suxx

[@alfredoramirez-uw5ub]

Uhhh hello…😊😊😊

[@stevenhill3136]

Everyone’s loving life after big oil went belly up

[@mikebrown5239]

They voted for trump I don’t feel sorry for them

[@lannyhancock9133]

🎉 'promo sm'

[@joseph361972]

was this show about anything. could not tell.

[@jamesonpace726]

You're not paying attention....