A saying goes that when white America gets a cold, black America gets the flu. For Blacks in Appalachia, they might as well be suffering from double pneumonia. Black Appalachians have played a critical role in the region’s social and economic development – from workers in the coal and steel industries to midwives in the care economy, Black people have had a powerful presence. Yet, they are often invisible in the prevailing image of a rural, white region and tend to be left out of conversations about solutions to issues affecting them. Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC) is working to change that narrative. Founded in 2021, BLAC spans the Ohio Valley of Appalachia – Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia — areas where Blacks are among the hardest hit in a region grappling with the double punch of economic distress and the environmental fallout from the abuses of extractive industries. BLAC is redefining Appalachia’s whitewashed image by building a multi-state campaign that ensures these essential Black perspectives are heard, respected, and recognized as central to Appalachia’s true identity.
“When we bring our stories together, we have collective power.” – BLAC Founder and Director Bishop Marcia Dinkins
Founded by Bishop Marcia Dinkins, BLAC turns community voices into policy change. Their team of six staff, three board members, and four community fellows collect stories from Black Appalachians facing pollution, crumbling infrastructure, and unequal resources. These firsthand accounts help BLAC create real solutions to present to government officials. The organization educates communities about petrochemical dangers through webinars, gathers election perspectives through BLAC Wave, and shares stories of both struggles and triumphs via their “Black Re-Membering” podcast. Their annual policy summit connects residents directly with decision-makers on voting rights, healthcare, and environmental protection. Recent wins include coaching Youngstown residents to secure a ban on tire and plastic burning, and pushing Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County to include community voices in air quality decisions through their Freedom to Breathe campaign. BLAC recognizes and honors Black Appalachians as the experts they’ve always been.
Three miners in Lorado, Logan County, West Virginia. Source: The Library of Congress.