I’ve been asked what motivated my father to write such a different novel from his previous work.
He told me he was deeply moved after reading a newspaper article in the mid-1970s detailing the mistreatment of migrant workers in South Florida. The article recounted the horrifying story of a crew chief who held his workers in enslavement for two years, depriving them of wages and freedom while subjecting them to brutal beatings.
Appalled that such conditions still persisted, Smith traveled to Miami and extensively researched old newspapers to uncover more accounts of migrant workers being held in bondage by crew chiefs. This prompted him to undertake what he called “physical research,” where he disguised himself in shabby attire, grew a beard, and infiltrated the ranks of migrant laborers in Homestead, participating in seasonal crop picking.
Living with meager wages of $35 per week and enduring squalid living conditions, he immersed himself in the experiences of the labor camps, all while going unnoticed as a writer thanks to his Southern drawl and unassuming appearance. This intense research went on for over a year, allowing him to truly understand the grim realities faced by the workers.
With this profound familiarity and experience, Smith was able to write his novel, Angel City, in just a few weeks.
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Special Offer: Two For The Price of One
With Christmas approaching, consider these novels as thoughtful gifts (they aren’t children’s books). Angel City is offered in this special two-for-one promotion. For every online order, the shipment will be doubled, making each book just $5.48 instead of the usual $10.95. It’s a great deal for great gifts.
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Synopsis of Angel City
Being forced to sell his land, Jared Teeter moved with his family in search of a better life in Florida. They discover, like many other immigrants in Appalachia that work is scarce. Jared is reduced to working the fields in a forced labor camp called “Angel City”. Creedy, the supervisor of Angel City, is a sadistic man who maintains discipline through violence and intimidation. Days too long, too little pay, a lack of food, inadequate shelter, inhumanity and cruelty in Angel City encourage Jared to an escape attempt. He failed and he suffers. But he takes revenge on Creedy again when looking for a new girl for his harem: the daughter of Jared Teeter.
Angel City Made Into a Movie
Angel City was made into a CBS Movie of The Week, starring some big names. It was released in 1980 and starred Ralph Waite, Jennifer Warren, Jennifer Jason Lee, and Paul Winfield, to name a few.
This allowed a much wider audience to experience the story and further contribute to the discussions surrounding the treatment of migrant workers.
Following its television release, Angel City was made available for home viewing on VHS. While it is difficult to find a VHS copy (you can try Amazon and eBay), you can see a poor-quality copy on YouTube. It also looks like you may be able to purchase a version at TruTVMovies however, the quality looks poor.
Here’s a short snippet of the movie below.
Controversy and Change
The book and the movie did what Dad wanted; it caused quite a controversy and led to significant changes in the laws protecting migrant workers. It was successful in highlighting the issue and generating public awareness. As a result, over a dozen laws were enacted to offer better protection to migrant workers and to regulate the behavior of crew chiefs. These laws aimed to ensure fair treatment, reasonable working conditions, and proper wages for the workers.
Final Notes
This is a powerful novel and Dad once told me it was one that he was most proud of. He certainly worked harder to do the necessary research in order to write it.
It is your now for a limited time at this special 2-4-1 offer. It’ll make appreciated, economical gifts this holiday season. It is only available at the link below.
Order Angel City Here