Gov. Jim Justice has declared May 2024 Older Americans Month in West Virginia, aiming to honor older adults' contributions to society and raise awareness of senior services.
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Suppressed Mine Wars History Being Revived Inside Appalachia
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Not many Americans know the story of the Mine Wars that were fought between workers, labor unions and mine company guards during the early 1900s. In this show, Jessica Lilly talks with filmmaker Randy MacLowry, whose new PBS documentary The Mine Wars focuses on these armed uprisings by labor organizers in the coalfields of southern West Virginia.
Was the Mine Wars One of the Sources of Negative Appalachian Stereotypes?
We’ve talked a lot on this show lately about who gets to tell Appalachia’s story. This can get kind of touchy because, well, we’ve been burned before. Even during our struggle for dignity and constitutional rights, the national media was quick to dismiss what they called an “uncivilized” group of Appalachian people.
West Virginia historian Chuck Keeney says many of the national perceptions of us Appalachians may have started during the mine wars. These stereotypes continue to this day.
Also in this episode:
The Mine Wars history hasn’t been taught by most public school history teachers. We’ll from one West Virginia history buff who’s hoping to change that.
People down in southern West Virginia who say they’re proud to see the history of the mine wars getting more attention through a new Mine Wars Museum.
We’ll also explore the story behind the word “Redneck” and what it has to do with the history of the West Virginia Mine Wars.
Music in this show was provided by Andy Agnew Jr., Ben Townsend, the late Hazel Dickens, Hurray For the Riff Raff as heard on Mountain Stage, Time Eriksen and Riley Baugus from the album Blair Pathways. You also heard music by Alan “Cathead” Johnston with help from Stacy Grubb from the soundtrack of the play “The Terror of the Tug”.
Our What’s in a Name theme music is by Marteka and William with “Johnson Ridge Special” from their Album Songs of a Tradition.
On this West Virginia Morning, according to state code, the attorney general’s job is to enforce West Virginia’s laws as they relate to – listed in order – consumer protection, unfair trade practices, civil rights and other important areas. As Randy Yohe shows us, the four primary candidates running for attorney general, two Republicans and two Democrats, have diverse views on the overall mission of the office.
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia is seeing a boom in low and no-carbon manufacturing, thanks to tax credits and other federal programs designed to spur investment in energy communities. Curtis Tate spoke recently with Brian Anderson, a senior adviser on energy communities at the U.S. Department of Energy. They spoke at the University of Charleston.
On this West Virginia Morning, the Jewish holiday of Passover is coming to an end. It is a time for celebration and reflection. This year, it has been a bit more difficult, according to Rabbi Victor Urecki from Charleston. He spoke with News Director Eric Douglas to discuss the holiday and the struggle with the war in Gaza.
In March, broadcast journalists from Virginia and West Virginia were recognized when the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters met to present awards for notable stories produced in 2023. This week, we listen back to some of our award-winning stories.