Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 7.03 Activism and Organizing
Presentation #1 Title
Race Relations in Early West Virginia Coal Company Towns
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
As several scholars of Appalachia within the social sciences have pointed out, the coal fields of West Virginia were an area of decreased racism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This decline in racism has been identified as one of the reasons for the success of the UMW and mining strikes that occurred during the 20th century at sites like Paint Creek and Blair Mountain. However, there is little research that explores the social situations that occurred within the mining communities that allowed for the relaxation of race-based class boundaries in Appalachia. Using multiple lines of evidence, this paper explores the social situations that occurred in within the mining towns and theorizes why this unique social situation developed. I posit that one of the major reasons for this decline in racial based class divisions stems from the liminal experiences of working underground, and living in an impoverished, geographically isolated community. Several factors related to these experiences combined to create a unique situation which allowed for the relaxation of many traditional race-based social boundaries that would not be seen in mainstream America for several decades.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Carl DeMuth is a graduate student at Indiana University studying the archaeology of West Virginia's early mining towns in the New River Gorge region. He is interested in the social forces that shaped the experiences of mining families and allowed for a relaxation of race-based social boundaries in these company towns.
Race Relations in Early West Virginia Coal Company Towns
Drinko Library 138
As several scholars of Appalachia within the social sciences have pointed out, the coal fields of West Virginia were an area of decreased racism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This decline in racism has been identified as one of the reasons for the success of the UMW and mining strikes that occurred during the 20th century at sites like Paint Creek and Blair Mountain. However, there is little research that explores the social situations that occurred within the mining communities that allowed for the relaxation of race-based class boundaries in Appalachia. Using multiple lines of evidence, this paper explores the social situations that occurred in within the mining towns and theorizes why this unique social situation developed. I posit that one of the major reasons for this decline in racial based class divisions stems from the liminal experiences of working underground, and living in an impoverished, geographically isolated community. Several factors related to these experiences combined to create a unique situation which allowed for the relaxation of many traditional race-based social boundaries that would not be seen in mainstream America for several decades.
