This weekend I joined over two thousand people in Washington, DC for Appalachia Rising, a conference and march against mountaintop removal mining. The march paused in front the Environmental Protection Agency and PNC Bank, which helps to finance mountaintop removal, before concluding in front of the White House, where around one hundred activists were arrested for nonviolent civil disobedience.
Appalachia Rising will likely prove to be a historically significant event, as this is the first time that a broad coalition of organizations, mostly based in Appalachia, came together to organize a large nationwide march against mountaintop removal.
Mountaintop removal has had devastating consequences for the region, including poisoned drinking water (which frequently comes out of the faucet black, red, or green) and deadly avalanches, flooding, and mudslides. It also puts miners out of work, since mountaintop removal requires only a third of the number of miners required for underground mining. Coalfield residents feel earthquake-like blasts while the mountains are being exploded and endure loud electronic beeping at night. Dust from the blasts can coat houses and roads, sometimes rendering the painted lines on the highway invisible, endangering drivers.
Appalachia Rising was a blue-collar and grassroots event, with most of the organizers and participants hailing from coal mining regions. In an article that offended a number of the protesters, the Associated Press smirked that the march was a “festive” gathering of bearded hippies with facial piercings, chanting “old standbys” like “We Shall Overcome.” What that reporter did not realize, or did not acknowledge, is that many of the beards, red bandanas, bluegrass music, overalls, and the “ho down”-style dancing of protesters awaiting arrest were not counter-cultural fashion statements but everyday expressions of Appalachian culture. I probably learned more about the history and culture of Kentucky in the three days I spent at Appalachia Rising than in the past four years of living there.
Many participants in Appalachia Rising joined the movement against mountaintop removal at great personal risk. As speaker Lorelei Scarbro stated, “You literally put your life on the line any time you stand up against coal in coal country.” Larry Gibson, founder of Keepers of the Mountains and a hero in the anti-mountaintop removal movement, spoke of shots fired at his home and the killings of his pet dogs.
On the bus back to Kentucky, I interviewed Rick Handshoe, a member of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and a case in point of the intimidation faced by Appalachians who resist the coal companies. Handshoe, a soft-spoken man in his fifties who lives in eastern Kentucky, has become a noted whistleblower, seeking the aid of the EPA in his fight against the coal companies and corrupt Kentucky bureaucrats in league with big coal. He explains that he joined the fight against mountaintop removal for his children, who suffered sore throats and respiratory problems for years due to exposure to methane gas produced by mountaintop removal mining. Handshoe now spends nearly all of his time fighting mountaintop removal. “This is not what I planned to do when I retired. We have had to become self-trained hydrologists, engineers, and lawyers just to survive.” He has faced threats of violence and imprisonment and even a recent threat that his retirement benefits will be cut off by the state.
Coal companies sponsor massive propaganda campaigns to persuade Appalachians that their livelihoods depend upon coal and that “outsiders” who protest the industry are just “tree-huggers” who do not care about the people. The Appalachia Rising event sought to counteract those myths. While many participants spoke of their deep love or spiritual reverence for the mountains, the primary focus was upon the struggles of the Appalachian people. Indicative of this focus were a conference session aptly titled, “Environmentalists vs. Labor: A False Dichotomy,” and t-shirts reading, “What you do to the mountains, you do to the people.” While the Appalachia’s long, bitter struggle against economic and political control by the coal industry is far from over, Appalachia Rising is a sign of hope and the beginning of a national movement against mountaintop removal.
Thank you for addressing that damned AP article. It’s symptomatic of how the corporate media wants to marginalize and de-legitimize protest and direct action.
Thanks for posting this, Joan!
Great article, Joan! Solidarity.
Thank you for posting Joan and I agree with most of your article and about the AP missing the point. But I have to disagree with the “ho down” dancing and overalls part of your article.
Overalls are not the staple uniform of Appalachian people, more of a Hee-Haw creation and there are REAL forms of Appalachia dancing that are not the “ho down”- again a creation of the hillbilly stereotype.
I am a seventh-generational Appalachian that flatfoots and from a family that includes a cousin that started a well-respected clogging troupe that is currently based out of Harland County, KY.
I felt that part of the protest- when mostly young non- Appalachia residents locked arms and began jumping around and doing “ho down” dancing – was very disrespectful to our culture and the Appalachian friends I was with- many there from Appalshop- were angered. In my opinion that was an expression of a “counter-cultural fashion statement” that sees Appalachian culture as “cool” without being rooted in its complexities and traditions.
I flatfoot and square dance and it looks nothing like the “ho down” dance I saw being performed on the arrest line towards the end.
Furthermore, it takes an immense amount of skill and more importantly, an immersion in the cultural context of mountain music to flatfoot- it is not just jumping up and down and spinning people around by the arm. That kind of thing looks like a hillbilly send up straight out of Hee-Haw.
To see mountain dancing in action check out the excellent film Talking Feet: http://www.folkstreams.net/film,121
I’m not trying to be offensive, but speaking my truth as a young Appalachian. And that truth is- let’s not perpetuate stereotypes and misconceptions while proclaiming to be demystifying them. Remember that the hillbilly stereotype exists for a reason- to make a group of people seem subhuman so that we as a nation can do unspeakable things to them and their homeland.
For more information on mountain culture check out the films of Appalshop.
In Solidarity, Lora Smith
Hi Lora, I hope the lobbying went well. Thanks for the feedback on the article. I think you are raising some good questions for the next steps of the anti-MTR movement. I am very concerned about stereotypes of Appalachia and want to help counteract the stereotypes.
Mainly what I was trying to express is that the mainstream media looked at a really ground-breaking protest and then just unthinkingly fit into a typical mold, the mold that the mainstream media uses to describe pretty much every mass protest: something along the lines of “a bunch of hippie kids with nothing better to do started dancing around in the spring sunshine.” Not only was that inaccurate in this case, but it also missed the fact that this protest was probably attended by a larger proportion of working class people than the typical large national protest, which I think was one of the best things about Appalachia Rising.
As you know, I’m not from Appalachia, so I have a lot to learn. In my defense, someone invited me to a Friday night “ho down” at Appalachia Rising (so if “ho down” is the wrong term, I’ll let people know next time) and I spoke to people at the rally who were from Appalachia who were wearing overalls and bandanas. About the red bandanas, by the way, someone at the rally told me that they are a long-time symbol of Appalachian union miners’ resistance to the coal companies; I don’t know if that’s fact or fiction, but it’s awesome if it’s true. Anyway, thanks again for weighing in.
Peace,
Joan
Thanks, Joan. I was really not trying to be a jerk about it. I totally understand your article and perspective and agree with your position about the AP report. They ignored the fact that a whole bunch of community members directly affected by mountaintop removal had come a long way to get arrested and made it about “hippies” dancing. Red bandanas are a long-time symbol of resistance- goes back to the strike and massacre at Blair Mountain when miners wore them. I just get offended when people who are not directly affected take the spotlight and do things- like mimicking “ho down” dancing- that plays into stereotypes instead of illuminating them. I appreciate and thank you for your work!
Lora
As a true bystander who did not attend the protest and only just logged on to see Joan’s article I want to say how much I appreciate the analysis the two of you have done regarding dismissive mainstream media who “miss the point” of a ground-breaking event.
That said, I’m also plenty impressed that Lora’s important points (I don’t live in Appalachia and am a transplant to Kentucky myself and in need of plenty of education) were made without rancor, received in a spirit of humility, and finally wrapped up with appreciation. There are not many comment strings that follow THAT trajectory, and I have to say it’s made my night. So I send deep appreciations for the work you are both doing, not only in protest-mode, but in your dealings with each other. We won’t get anything changed if we’re sniping at each other; how I wish I could present this lesson the two of you have demonstrated to every snipe-y comment poster I’ve ever read. Y’all rock and I’m thrilled to be here, hearing your conversation in bystander mode…
gratefully, Gail
Lora:
To get the nit-picking over with, it’s Harlan County, not Harland, although I believe Col. Sanders did spell his first name with a d. (Spelling mistakes detract from credibility, dear.) Also, as the joke goes, I live so deep in what’s left of the Appalachian hills (they’re not mountains; go to Colorado to see mountains), that even the Episcopalians handle snakes. Every day, though, I see folks at the store or post office who still wear bib overalls — and they are not erstwhile Yankees working at Appalshop in Whitesburg or repellent Buckeyes attending Hillbilly Days in Pikeville. Unfortunately, square dancing and flatfoot tap dancing mostly died out in the hills at about the same time as American chestnuts. The last real square-dance caller I knew died last year. Almost everything else you see is improvised, self-serving shucking and jiving that mostly serves the purposes of brought-ons who somehow obtained federal funds or private grants to, cough, help preserve our Appalachian culture. Truth is, of course, that Cratis Williams was right: the real Appalachian culture has been dead for at least 40 years, or about the same time the coal industry began using bulldozers instead of men to expedite mining. What’s left are mostly welfare clients, the druggies, underpaid school teachers and overpaid administators in an education system modeled after our political system, which is to say, often corrupt and bent mostly on self preservation. Of course, then there’s the coal folks, too, and their families, many college educated who live in fine homes and most of whom have never been close to a pair of overalls.
Joan’s piece is generally an accurate account of the obstacles faced by folks who oppose coal in this state and WV. Theirs is, however, a lost cause. Raise as much hell as you like, it’s pointless. I wish there had been as much opposition to the stupid “wars” Cheney et al started in order to funnel money to military contractors and themselves. But the Republicans had enough sense not to reinstate the draft this time and upset the college kids. This MTR protest. however, is more than 30 years too late: it should have begun back when the federal strip-mine law in 1977 created loopholes big enough for bulldozers –and drag-line shovels — to pass through. Good luck in your next endeavor. Appalachia, as it existed, and exists, is a goner and so is its hills.
Rufus,
Others have made excellent points regarding much of what you have written, but I do need to address one point that you made.
My family settled in the mountains of southwestern Virginia in 1750. I work at Appalshop. You should visit our offices sometime instead of spouting off about “erstwhile Yankees”.
I would continue, but I’m too busy “obtaining federal funds or private grants to, cough, help preserve our Appalachian culture”
Dear all,
this is truly a good discussion. Good points made by all — and great to watch people listen & talk with each other.
Rufus: the protests were fierce against strip-mining in the 1960s & 70s — Please see the excellent film by Anne Lewis “To Save the Land & People” http://appalshop.org/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=221
There were many dozens of grassroots organizations fighting stripmining — which ended up forming the Appalachian Alliance. This large group strongly urged Pres Carter TO VETO SMACRE — they saw clearly that it would just legalize the pillage — but the better connected, national environmental groups & leaders caved to the idea of ‘regulation’ — once again an example where grassroots mountain leaders were ignored by those better connected within the Beltway.
I hope that some of the folks who were dancing speak at some point from their perspective. I was arrested before the circle dancing started, but can speak from the perspective of those sitting on the wet ground in the rain — it was uncomfortable & we were all I think trying to keep our spirits up — finding songs everyone could sing. It was confusing & scary. At one point, someone called out — can anyone call for square dancing — I think it was 2 young women from WVU who called / led the first square dancing — that seemed ok to me — we were cold, it was pouring down rain — it seemed like a continuation of the singing. It felt good to me (altho’ I’m way to old & infirm to join in dance), like it was breaking up the violent atmosphere that comes from police uniforms (altho’ the police were very good & considerate as could be under the circumstances). In other words, it’s not entirely clear to me that ‘non-mountain’ youth were exactly trying to mimic a fake Appalachian culture. It felt more like we were all improvising. Since the media are so likely to caricature things — maybe this sort of thing should be more strictly choreographed in future? So that the training includes not doing anything that might look wrong to lunkheaded media? It’s not clear to me that the last arrestees were trying to hog the spotlight — I thot the guidelines were that we could choose to walk, or we could just go limp when arrested. The sad fact tho’, is that, except for Lex Herald Leader most of the media focused on photos of the people who went limp & had to be carried (more dramatic) plus this AP report that focused on the last dancing…But, I didn’t see it with my own eyes…so I might have misunderstood what was happening. There was a lot going on & it was confusing.
Dear all: everyone is making good points & it’s so good to watch people listen to each other!
Rufus: people were protesting & organizing for many years in the coalfields against strip-mining & other abuses of coal — fiercely & effectively in 1960s & 70s’. Many dozens of grassroots groups made up the Appalachian Alliance — which strongly asked Pres Carter TO VETO the national legislation (which became SMACRA) — because they said it would only legalize the plunder. The Ap Alliance was the most important grassroots group in the widespread mobilization against strip-mining — but Carter listened to the leaders & organizations with more ‘inside-the-Beltway’ connections & perspectives. But the Ap Alliance was right — the loopholes did, as you say, open the way to MTR & other abuses which have greatly strengthened Big Coal politically. For more on Appalachian movements against strip-mining see Anne Lewis’ excellent film “To Save the Land & People” http://appalshop.org/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=221
for the mountains,
Betsy Taylor
Hi Lora:
As someone who considers himself an ally in the movement to end MTR and someone who was dancing in front of the White House last Monday, I apologize for any misrepresentations that may have been brought upon Appalachia. The intention was not to advance stereotypes or disrespect the culture of Appalachia in any way. Many, if not all, of the young non-Appalachians in front of the White House were there for the very clear purpose of supporting a call to end mountaintop removal.
That said, I want to clear up some things about the intentions of the dancers. The process to initiate the dance was done by the best consensus possible while sitting on a sidewalk with 100+ people awaiting arrest. The idea of having a “square dance” toward the end of the protest–something proposed during the action training sessions–resurfaced in front of the White House. The idea was brought to Appalachian residents in the center of the sit-in and supported with an offering of a caller to facilitate. The folks on the right side (stage-right) then went about recruiting a band from the crowd to come closer and provide the music. By the time the band got there, our caller had been arrested and the group of dancers–yes many non-Appalachian–was left to improvise in whatever way they knew how, many without a formal training in traditional dance.
What this brings me to think is that some of us in the solidarity movement need a proper schooling on Appalachian culture–something you are kindly providing in the links above. It is not that hearts were in the wrong place, but an understanding of mountain dancing that was lacking. Personally, as an Irish-American, I have a deep appreciation for traditional music and claim bluegrass as my favorite genre to listen and dance to. However, I have never taken lessons in the proper styles and have improvised mostly from watching those around me at festivals and concerts.
In response to your writing, I hope to make a concerted effort to learn more about the traditions, which I feel an affinity toward in order to better understand the roots of Appalachian culture. I mean to approach this movement with the utmost respect and regard to those most affected as it is your cause, which we are advocating first and foremost. Sure, we are all downstream and we are all affected by changes to the climate and pollution from the coal industry, but at the end of the day, Appalachia is bearing the biggest brunt of this form of environmental destruction.
So may many lessons be learned at Appalachia Rising, this not the least of them, and may these carry and strengthen us in the times to come. We all know there is much more to be done and this is just the beginning of a focused effort to tie together the many parts of the resisting whole.
In solidarity with respect,
Peter Hoy
Chicago, IL
This is a good conversation. But I have to say I was very saddened by Rufus’ belief that mountain culture is dead and it is too late to stop MTR. It is quite possible that there is more evidence to support this position than my own. I can only say that when I was released (arrestee #17)and walking across the lawn toward the gate of the detention center, I have never felt so proud to be an American or a hillbilly. There are mountains left to live in and protect. There is a living mountain culture that we create anew everyday, and these are worth fighting for, if not for the sake of success, then for the sake of our own humanity. PS The last dance caller you mentioned was surely my dear friend Charlie Whitaker and since he’s not here to point it out, I must remind you that he taught calling to several folks, most notably to a teenager from Letcher Co named Erin Stidham. She is still keeping the square dances going at Carcassonne and other of Charlies’ favorite spots, and is herself a testiment to the resilience and joy possible in mtn communities.
What am ii suppost to say?.