What We Do
Storytelling
“Bearing witness to the multitude of voices and stories of Black people in the Appalachian region is an honor. It’s one thing to know about the term Affrilachia; it’s another thing to understand what it means to be Affrilachian. BLAC promotes the understanding of our identity [through the power of storytelling] and the salience of Affrilachia.”
– NitaJade (Bristol, VA)
Podcast
The Black Appalachian Coalition’s podcast, Black Re-Membering, is where we bring to you the heavy and the hope across the Ohio River Valley and Black Appalachia.
Our podcast 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. It 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, reminding ourselves that we are rooted, and we are here to stay. We hope Black Re-Membering will be where you too find your place, your space, and your voice.
Blog
Our blog is where you can see how African Americans are making history across the Ohio River Basin & Valley and Appalachia.
Stay up-to-date on all of The Black Appalachian Coalition’s content, resources, stories, initiatives, and more by accessing our blog.
Story Map
As our interactive story map shows, we are here. Despite the whitewashed history of rural America, Black people have always existed in the Appalachian region. The Census numbers may be small, but the contributions are huge, including the introduction of the banjo by Black blues musicians in the late 1700s. Just as the instrument played a critical role in the development of modern music, Black residents play a big part in shaping the culture and the conversations of Appalachia and beyond.
In chronicling our stories through BLAC’s interactive Story Map, we begin counter the longstanding erasure of Black voices from the stories and policies of the region.
