"The West Virginia Mine War, 1890 to the Present": The History of Coal Mining in Appalachia

This summer, students from the Philadelphia Student Union visited the town of Matewan, West Virginia; a town with a rich history of coal miner organizing. There, a man named Wes Harris explained the conditions faced by coal miners in the early 20th century, and that some miners are still experiencing today. This visit was part of a larger immersion into Appalachia, to better understand poverty in this country and how to build a multi-racial movement to end it.

This radio piece was edited by Matt Johnson & produced by Kimora Lamonte, for On Blast.

On Blast is the youth-produced radio show of the Philadelphia Student Union.

It airs every Wednesday, 6-7pm on 88.1FM WPEB in West Philadelphia.

Wes Harris explains the Scrip system for paying coal miners.