Racism Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

White Supremacist Group Marches Though Downtown Charleston Saturday

On the same day the YWCA Charleston had a Race to End Racism in the capitol city, a group of men from the white supremacist group Patriot Front marched through the streets of downtown.

Witnesses reported the seeing the men unload two U-Haul trucks at Daniel Boone Park and marching to the Capitol in front of the statue of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, on Kanawha Boulevard and California Street. They then marched down the boulevard and turned onto Capitol Street.

The group marched carrying a banner that read “America is not for sale.” They chanted slogans and handed out the organization’s propaganda.

According to the Anti Defamation League, the “Patriot Front is a white supremacist group whose members maintain that their ancestors conquered America and bequeathed it to them alone. They define themselves as American fascists or American nationalists who are focused on preserving America’s identity as a European-American nation.”

They often use flash demonstrations like toady’s event around the country.

The men were all wearing matching khaki pants, hats and dark colored polo shirts. They were also wearing masks over their faces from the moment they jumped out of the back of the trucks.

Mayor Amy Goodwin put out a statement that said, in part, “It is important for our community to celebrate coming together and stand up against hate. When our city team learned of a national hate group demonstrating earlier today, we acted quickly and appropriately to make sure all in our community remained safe.”

The Charleston City Police stayed close by to avoid any trouble and the march appeared to be peaceful. It is unclear if the group had a permit for the march.

Question On ‘Systemic Racism’ Fuels House Debate

Among the bills on third reading in the House of Delegates Thursday, a proposal on allowing schools to hire trained security guards, led to a heated societal debate over the issue of training the guards in the concept of systemic racism.

House Bill 4851 is a bill to allow for public and private schools in West Virginia to employ security personnel. The proposed training for these security guards includes firearms training, knowing certain state laws, properly dealing with disabled students, and understanding the concepts of racism and systemic racism.

An amendment proposed to the bill would strike “systemic racism” from the training requirements. That sparked what was at first a one-sided debate – because some amendment sponsors would not yield to a question.

Del. Amitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, opposed the amendment. She said systemic racism is woven into education, health care and much of the fabric of society.

“People are not willing to agree that this is happening in West Virginia,” Hamilton said. “Because that will lend to the ideology that we have structures in place within this state that are intentionally prohibiting people, particularly people of color, people like me, from advancing, from having access to equal education, equal health care, we don’t want to agree to those things happening here.”

Del. Tom Fast, R-Fayette, supported the amendment. He said the current language in this bill presupposes and would codify that the whole society or the whole education system is racist or biased.

“That means all persons are inherently racist or biased,” Fast said. “So you can look to the person on your left, and you can look to the person on your right regardless of their color, and you can presuppose that they are racist or biased. This amendment seeks it and rejects that notion.”

House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, said acknowledging systemic racism doesn’t make anyone any less of a person, or less of a Republican.

“I’m just finding it hard to understand that now, all of a sudden, we’re doing things to chip away at people working together,” Hornbuckle said. “To acknowledge things. Why would we do that? I mean, we see it, just recently in the financial sector, with financial firms, and banks being caught red handed. On not allowing mortgages for certain people, we’ve seen insurance companies denying coverage for certain people.”

Other Republicans joined Democrats in speaking against excluding systemic racism from school security guard training.

Finally, the amendment sponsor, Del. Elias Coop-Gonzalez, R-Randolph, a Latino, said he was elected, thus proving his point.

“I’m from Guatemala, and my mom is Indigenous. And I inherited her last name,” Coop-Gonzalez said. “Today, none of the people sitting over there have had the courage to condemn. Not the gentleman from the 5th or the 25th. I guess they didn’t show up to work. But in my district, Latinos make up less than one percent of the population. But in 2022, for only the second time in the history of our state, they elected me, a Latino man, to represent them. Is that a racist system? No. I’m living proof of it.”

The amendment passed 75-20, removing systemic racism from the training list. House Bill 4851 passed 89-0 with 11 members either absent, or most of the 11, not voting.

Remembering Woody Williams And Volunteers Save Segregated Cemetery, Inside Appalachia

This week, we visit a cemetery in Bluefield, Virginia and learn how racial segregation followed some people to the grave. We also hear from Neema Avashia, author of the celebrated memoir, “Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer And Indian In A Mountain Place.” And we remember Hershel “Woody” Williams. The West Virginia native was America’s last living World War II Medal of Honor winner. He died last summer at the age of 98.

This week, we visit a cemetery in Bluefield, Virginia and learn how racial segregation followed some people to the grave.

We also hear from Neema Avashia, author of the celebrated memoir, “Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer And Indian In A Mountain Place.”

And we remember Hershel “Woody” Williams. The West Virginia native was America’s last living World War II Medal of Honor winner. He died last summer at the age of 98.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Repairing A Segregated Cemetery

For decades, the graves of Black residents in a Virginia community were neglected in the town’s old, segregated cemetery.

It might have stayed that way if not for the efforts of one woman who had family buried there.

Folkways Reporter Connie Bailey Kitts brought us this story.

World War I veteran Robert L. Dalton was a corporal in the 803rd Pioneer Infantry which included the band of African Americans who played for French and American troops. His grave is now decorated on Memorial Day.

*Credit: Connie Bailey Kitts/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Coming Up Queer And Indian In Appalachia

Recently, Inside Appalachia put together a list of summer reading suggestions. We interviewed several prominent Appalachian authors, but we couldn’t fit them all into one show – including Neema Avashia.

Her collection of personal essays, “Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place,” about growing up in West Virginia, was a well-received memoir.

Mason Adams spoke with Avashia.

Remembering Woody Williams

Hershel “Woody” Williams was the nation’s last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient.

He was a West Virginia native and died June 29, 2022 at the age of 98.

Before he passed, though, he did an interview with WVPB’s Trey Kay for the podcast Us & Them.

Hershel “Woody” Williams

*Credit: e-wv, The West Virginia Encyclopedia*

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Chris Knight, Chris Stapleton, Harvey & Copeland, June Carter Cash, and Little Sparrow.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads (new!) and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Old School Fly Fishing Rods And Minor League Baseball Lore, Inside Appalachia

This week on Inside Appalachia, we meet a craftsman who builds exquisite, handmade fly rods and shares his love of fishing with others. We also talk about Appalachia’s nurse shortage, and we hear stories about Appalachian baseball.

This week, we meet a craftsman who builds exquisite, handmade fly rods and shares his love of fishing with others.

We also talk about Appalachia’s nurse shortage. Experts say tackling racism could help attract and keep more nurses.

We also hear stories about Appalachian baseball and listen to the story of how a minor league team in Tennessee traded its shortstop — for a turkey.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

The Tao Of Fly Fishing Rods
Nursing Crisis In Kentucky
Reviewing The Story Of West Virginia’s Statehood
Baseball Lore In Appalachia

The Tao Of Fly Fishing Rods

The path from making the fly fishing rod to using it is long, but still ends in the river.

*Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Fly fishermen are a different breed. There’s plenty of newfangled fishing gear out there, but some folks prefer to fish with hand-made rods made with traditional materials.

Folkways Reporter Zack Harold takes us along on a trip to the Elk River to learn more.

Nursing Crisis In Kentucky

Health care access is still a major problem in our region. Along with a lack of facilities, there’s a growing need for more nurses — especially nurses who are people of color.

WFPL’s Morgan Watkins reports.

Reviewing The Story Of West Virginia’s Statehood

Mason Adams hears more about West Virginia’s split from Virginia, which was more complex than choosing to stay with the union.

*Courtesy*

If you live in and around West Virginia, you’ve probably heard the history of how the state split off from Virginia. But if your history classes didn’t get into it, or if you don’t remember the finer points, West Virginia University (WVU) history professor Hal Gorby explains what people get wrong about the creation of West Virginia.

Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams spoke with Gorby.

Baseball Lore In Appalachia

“Tales from the Dugout: 1001 Humorous, Inspirational & Wild Anecdotes from Minor League Baseball” explores some of the stories of the minor leagues.

*Courtesy*

Minor league baseball is back. Through early fall, there’s almost always a game happening somewhere. Veteran minor league baseball announcer Tim Hagerty is the author of “Tales from the Dugout: 1,001 Humorous, Inspirational & Wild Anecdotes from Minor League Baseball.”

Bill Lynch spoke with Hagerty about minor league ball and some of Appalachia’s best baseball lore.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Tyler Childers, Erik Vincent Huey, Jeff Ellis, and Alabama.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

WVPB Wins 2 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards

West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) has won two 2022 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards (RTDNA) in the Large Market Radio category.

WVPB’s podcast Us & Them with host Trey Kay, in collaboration with Chris Jones and Jesse Wright of 100 Days in Appalachia, won Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Us & Them episode “Kingwood March Gives A Unique Look At Racism In America.”

WVPB also won a RTDNA in Feature Reporting for Emily Corio’s story “Finding Affordable Child Care In W.Va. Leaves Some Working Parents Short On Options.” The piece was featured in an episode of Inside Appalachia about child care in West Virginia.

WVPB is in Region 8 which includes Kentucky, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. Regional winners automatically move on to the national round of consideration, which also includes digital news organization, network and student competitors.

Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious awards in news. It recognizes local and national news stories that uphold the RTDNA Code of Ethics, demonstrate technical expertise and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community.

RTDNA is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to broadcast and digital journalism. It was founded as a grassroots organization in 1946, and its mission is to promote and protect responsible journalism.

‘Anti-Racism Act’ Fails In Final Moments Of 2022 Legislative Session

It looked like the most controversial bill of the 2022 West Virginia Legislative session had just squeaked by in time, just before midnight and adjournment sine die on Saturday. But within the next hour, it was confirmed by the Senate Communications Director that Senate Bill 498 had not passed the upper chamber in time.

Senate Bill 498 was named the Anti-Racism Act of 2022 but was widely seen by opponents as a response to concerns about critical race theory. Referred to as CRT, Education Week describes it as “a theory that racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies.”

Supporters said it will protect students and ensure that no educator in West Virginia is teaching that one race is “inherently racist, sexist or oppressive” or that people should be discriminated against or “receive adverse treatment” because of their race.

Earlier in the legislative process, state education officials testified before lawmakers that they have had no instances of such lessons being taught in West Virginia.

A similar bill in the House of Delegates, House Bill 4011, failed to get out of committee following an emotional public hearing.

Sen. Owens Brown, D-Ohio, spoke against Senate Bill 498 on March 2, before it passed the Senate. Brown is a former president of the West Virginia NAACP and the only Black lawmaker in the state Senate.

“In 2020, after George Floyd was killed, I noticed people across the country coming together, white Americans, Black Americans, Asian, hispanics, arm-and-arm marching together protesting the inhumanity that had happened,” Brown said. “But then all of a sudden I see critical race theory being thrown out there and a debate again trying to divide people.”

“And this is what is happening,” he continued. “CRT was dormant. And it’s been told to you over and over again, that it wasn’t taught in the public schools. But here we are still trying to say it’s been inserted into public schools for political purposes and for political gain. And that is not right.”

Brown asked Senate Education Chair Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, who is also the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 498, for instances in West Virginia schools where she knew this theory was being taught. Rucker said she could not provide specific instances.

Opponents say the bill would limit thoughtful discussions about race, systemic racism and implicit bias in West Virginia K-12 schools and higher education institutions. Opponents have said such a law would create a “chilling effect” in the classroom, prohibiting teachers from teaching history accurately.

Supporters counter by saying the bill does not curtail free speech, historical discussions and academic freedoms.

Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, who is a public school teacher, spoke in support of the bill during debate on March 2. She said Senate Bill 498 will protect students like hers who have generations of family who come from poverty. She said it is wrong to say they are privileged just because of the color of their skin.

“Many of them come from generations of poverty – generations,” Grady said. “Some of them live in single wide trailers with holes in the floor, holes in the floor, no heat, no water, definitely food insecurity, to tell those kids that they have a leg up in society because of their race, is doing them a great disservice.”

“They don’t have a leg up in society, no more than skin color holds somebody down. We have to make sure we are telling our kids they can reach the stars,” she said.

Senate Bill 498 also would have created a reporting mechanism to the West Virginia Department of Education and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission for alleged violations.

The House sent over its amended version of Senate Bill 498 Friday evening after more than two hours of debate. The Senate waited until minutes before midnight on Saturday to take up the bill for a final vote, just missing the midnight deadline.

There was no mention of the missed deadline from Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, as he lowered the gavel to adjourn.