RECLAIMING OUR NARRATIVE

Black hands built America, and our contributions are woven into the very cultural fabric of the country, especially here at home in Appalachia. Despite the whitewashed history of Appalachia, meaning Black families are often erased from Appalachian power and achievements, we continue to be the cultural cornerstones of the region: from cornbread and collard greens, to the banjo, to protecting worker rights. Appalachian families, regardless of where they live or what they look like, have benefitted from the stories, culture, and power of Black Appalachians.

Black Appalachians have played an indelible role in shaping Appalachia, and rural America as a whole. While many of our communities have been hidden, or made invisible through occluding our stories, we remain the hardest hit by economic downturns, environmental racism, and corporate gutting of our homelands. In spite of all of this, we remain rooted in our ever-present joy, wisdom, and our commitment to drive progressive political change so that all of our communities across this region can thrive.

The Black Appalachian Coalition, BLAC, is working to provide a platform where Black residents are seen and heard as the leaders, credible messengers, and experts they have always been to impact legislation, enact policies, and hold bad actors accountable who harm our region. Historic and ongoing racism compounds the problems our communities face. Through civic engagement, storytelling, and community engagement, we aim to change the narrative of what it means to be Black and Appalachian so we can begin to confront the discriminatory practices that have for decades left our communities with fewer opportunities than our white neighbors.

Our mission since 2021 has been to unite our communities and amplify Black voices as we dismantle the colonized narrative of Appalachia. Through story-based strategies and solutions, we are centering the voices and lived experiences of Black Appalachians to drive local change, improving the lives for every family that calls Appalachia home.

Through community organizing, strategic campaigns, and compelling storytelling, BLAC is positively impacting how policymakers create and implement policies addressing air and water quality, food insecurity, healthcare access, and the numerous other issues that disproportionately impact our communities. We understand that for policies to work for us, we must first be seen and heard by those who make the decisions that impact our daily lives. We want to hear the voices of people and walk alongside them to find the solutions for their community. We are listening to understand what people of color are experiencing in Appalachia as a result of pollution, lack of infrastructure, limited opportunities and disparities in resources.

Our members reside in the Ohio River Valley of Central Appalachia, spanning Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Our region has historically produced the raw materials that fuel prosperity across the country, and despite this, is home to some of the most impoverished communities in America. Our communities have experienced downward mobility for decades, and faceless, faraway corporate interests have bled our land and communities dry while giving nothing back but compounding problems.

We know that fixing what is broken requires amplifying the voices of Black Appalachians, and we aim to bring forward Black people in the region to take their place in reclaiming the narrative and future of Appalachia. The presence of Black voices will inevitably shift fundamental narratives about our region, and identify and remedy some of the racist policies that have long disadvantaged Black people in the region.

The work of BLAC has directly confronted the racist and discriminatory practices that have left us with fewer opportunities. We know there is tremendous potential for our voices to shape the next generation of investment in our member states in ways that will allow everyone in the region to prosper. As we continue to tell new stories, listen with purpose, and amplify our voices as we advocate for new policies that benefit us all, we hope you join us in remembering the power of Black Appalachians over time and celebrating the community and support we offer one another in good times and bad.