Knowledge can be challenging. Striving toward change—even more so.
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Black Mesa: Some Lines Must Be Drawn
Black Mesa, or Big Mountain, is a mesa situated in the northeastern corner of Arizona within the Navajo Nation Reservation. Never heard of it? Not surprising. Few people know…
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True Appalachians
We are finding more and more ways to overextend ourselves in Appalachia. Our wants create debt; our debts force us to work dangerous environmentally destructive jobs. Nice homes,…
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How do you convince a coal miner?
People keep asking me, “How do we convince coal miners we need change?” My answers vary from week to week and I do not pretend to be an…
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Coal Dust and Corporate Jets
The mantrip reaches #1 section where it slows to stop. The mine air is cool and thick with the familiar dank smell of coal, rock dust, and mold.…
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Coal Miners are Good People
I’ve often stated that younger coal miners have a tendency to get themselves into large amounts of debt. It’s easy to do when you grow up in a…
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Coal, Greed, and Maintaining a Captive Generational Workforce
Previously titled “Guess Who Wants Your Kids to Work in a Coal Mine?” There are many resources in Appalachia that make men wealthy. But without people, those resources…
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A Coal Miner’s Health: Short Term Gains and Long Term loss
Coal mining is dangerous work. Spend any length of time talking with a group of underground coal miners and you are sure to hear “war stories” about…