BLAC
Re-Membering
Podcast
Black Re-Membering is the Black Appalachian Coalition’s flagship podcast and a core narrative justice platform dedicated to preserving truth, confronting harm, and reclaiming power through story. Rooted in Black Appalachian lived experience, the podcast centers the voices of those who have long been marginalized, erased, or misrepresented—elders, organizers, culture keepers, artists, policy leaders, and everyday people whose lives sit at the intersection of history, resistance, and survival.
Through intimate conversations and critical analysis, Black Re-Membering explores the deep and ongoing impacts of environmental racism, extractive industries, health inequities, land loss, and systemic neglect—while also uplifting the resilience, wisdom, and collective imagination of Black Appalachian communities. Each episode treats memory not as nostalgia, but as evidence, testimony, and strategy—a tool for truth-telling, healing, and liberation.
The podcast bridges the personal and the political, connecting ancestral knowledge and lived experience to today’s fights for clean water, safe air, reproductive justice, economic dignity, and self-determination. It invites listeners to sit with the “heavy”—the grief, injustice, and harm—and to move toward the “hope”—organizing, cultural power, and community-led solutions.
More than a podcast, Black Re-Membering is an archive, a call to action, and a living record of Black Appalachian life. It is where stories fuel movements, where memory becomes resistance, and where narrative power is built to shape a more just future.
Tales from the Library with Montia Thompson
Welcome to Episode 10 of Blac Re-Membering: Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope. Today's episode is hosted by Melanie Meade and she is joined by Montia Thompson, a mother and community member from Clairton, PA.
In this episode Montia Thompson brings a unique blend of lived experience and hope for community growth to the table. Originally from East Liberty's Omega Place, Montia has grappled with life in shelters and single-parenting before settling into stable housing in Clariton, PA. Her affinity for her current community doesn't blind her to its flaws but fuels her desire for improvement. As a regular at her local library and an avid enthusiast of reading and writing, she highlights the need for more educational and engagement opportunities for children. Montia is passionate about fostering stronger community bonding, increasing leadership opportunities, and encouraging wisdom sharing from elders to the younger generation.
A special thank you to Montia for sharing her story and her journey with us.
Living Legends: Meet the Baskins (Part 1)
Welcome to Episode 8 of Blac Re-Membering: Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope. Today's episode is part 1 of a 2-part conversation hosted by NitaJade, who is joined by the legendary Andrew and Symerdar Baskin.
Have you ever heard these myths about African Americans in the Appalachian region? Myth #1: There were no African Americans living in the Appalachian region. Myth #2: African Americans in Appalachia were all impoverished and uneducated. Myth #3: The contributions of African Americans in the Appalachian region have been erased from history. Join us as our guests as they dispel these myths and share the empowering truth about the importance of preserving personal narratives and reclaiming our history.
A special thank you to the Baskins for their time and lifelong contributions to African Americans and the greater world.
Learn more about this work and contributions:
Living Legends: Meet the Baskins (Part 2)
Welcome to Episode 9 of Blac Re-Membering: Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope. Today's episode is part 2 of the 2-part conversation hosted by NitaJade, who is joined by the legendary Andrew and Symerdar Baskin.
Show MoreWhy Black Spaces Matter
Welcome to Episode 7 of Blac Re-Membering: Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope. Today's episode is hosted by Marie Cochran and she is joined by Nicole Doyle, Co-founder of the Georgia Black Home Educators Network, and Kelle Jolly, Community Artist and Musician.
In this episode, Marie, Nicole, and Kelle share early memories of Black spaces that have shaped their journey today. They reflect on the importance of storytelling in learning and sharing of Black History. Finally, they discuss why Black Appalachian communities must create our own paths and write our own narratives in order to create spaces that are truly for us.
A special thank you to Nicole and Kelle for sharing their wisdom and journeys with us.
Supporting The Community: A Conversation with Fairshake Environmental Legal Services
Welcome to Episode 6 of Blac Re-Membering: Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope. Today's episode is facilitated by Melanie Meade and invites Shawn Reed and Meagan Neibler of Fairshake Environmental Legal Services to speak about their commitment to the community and why it is important in the fight for Environmental Justice along Black Appalachia.
We also invite you to register and attend our first Policy Summit on July 21-22, 2023. This is a multi-day conversation on uplifting Black voices to create effective, community-centered policy. Register for each day of the summit at bit.ly/2023-BLAC-policy-summit
A special thank you to Shawn and Meagan for the work they do and their commitment to Environmental Justice for all.
Fairshake believes that communities should be the drivers of decisions that impact their air, water, and the places where they live work and play. In many towns in the Ohio River Valley, low-income communities, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ communities are unfairly exposed to poor air and water quality, unhealthy living conditions, and harmful land use, just because of their zip code. The historic and current decisions that have created environmental injustices have led to higher rates of asthma, heart disease, cancers, mental health challenges, and lead poisoning. Take a look to see how your community is doing: EPA Environmental Justice Mapping Tool.
Our Children Are Our Future: A Reflection on Warren, Ohio with Sher-ree Glover
Welcome to Episode 5 of Blac Re-Membering: Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope. Today's episode is hosted by Kimyata Patterson and our guest is Sher-ree Glover. Sher-ree is an Educator and Community Activist who grew up on the 6th Ward of Warren, Ohio.
In this episode, Sher-ree shares what life was like growing up and how the world has dramatically changed for youth today. Sher-ree discusses the rise of trauma and gun violence among youth and the importance of trauma-informed education and good old-fashioned love to make a change.
A special thank you to Sher-ree Glover for her mentorship and commitment to the youth of the Warren community.
A Hopeful Future for Clairton with Jabar Snow
Welcome to Episode 4 of Blac Re-Membering: Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope. Today's episode is hosted by Dr. Melanie Meade and our guest is Jabar Snow. Jabar is a Welder and Community Activist that has lived in Clairton, Pennsylvania for most of his life.
In this episode, Jabar reflects on life in the 1980s and the change he experienced when he returned in the 1990s. He speaks of his work to inspire, educate, and support the youth of Clairton and the work and trust needed to make it happen.
A special thank you to Jabar Snow for sharing his work on today's episode and his dedication to the Clairton community.
Think Globally, Act Locally with Melinda Weathers
Welcome to Episode 3 of Blac Re-Membering: Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope. Today's episode is hosted by NitaJade and our guest is Melinda Weathers. Melinda works at Centre College and joined the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in July 2021. Originally from Danville, Kentucky. Melinda is a 2002 graduate of Centre College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a graduate of the University of Louisville with a Master of Arts in Sociology.
As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Melinda is responsible for developing and implementing curriculum and programming, as well as designing and or delivering training, presentations, workshops, and consultations that broadly promote diversity and inclusion. She also serves as a Title IX team member.
A special thank you to Melinda Weathers for her time and wisdom on today's episode.
Meet the BLAC Fellows
Welcome to Episode 2 of Blac Re-Membering: Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope. In this episode, you will hear from 4 of our BLAC Fellows: Melanie Meade, Kimyata Patterson, NitaJade, and Marie Cochran. You will hear from each Fellow about their connection to Black Appalachia and what they hope to gain from their work as a Fellow.
Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope
Welcome to the first episode of Blac Re-Membering: Highlighting the Heavy and the Hope. In this episode, you will hear from our founder, Bishop Marcia Dinkins. You will hear the humble beginnings of the project and the mission behind the work. The mission of the Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC) is to build a multi-state campaign that amplifies black voices, dismantles the colonized narrative of Appalachia, and uses story-based strategies and solutions that center the voices and lived experiences of Black Appalachians.
Show MoreTrailer
Welcome to the Black Appalachian Coalitions podcast entitled Black Re-Membering, where we will bring to you the heavy and the hope across the Ohio River Valley.
This is a place where we will let our souls wander. A place where we will sit in the ancestral hymns of what continues to be embedded in our soul and keeps us moving. This is a place where we will remind ourselves that we are deeply rooted in the fabric of the Appalachian region and that the Black Voice has something to say.
We want to remember who we are, and where we've come from. We are remembering our Black past and we are rooted, and we are here to stay. Welcome to Black Re-Membering. Here is where we hope that you find your place, your space, and your voice.
