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Black in Appalachia

Black in Appalachia

Having long been in this region, Black Appalachians remain mostly invisible, while the dominant narratives of Appalachia depict an overwhelming, white cultural homogeneity. The Black in Appalachia Podcast challenges these misconceptions by highlighting how Black families have shaped and have been shaped by the region. Through historical and contemporary stories of people, places and experiences, hosts Enkeshi El-Amin and Angela Dennis interrogate what it means to be Black in Appalachia, creating space where under-told stories can be heard and Black identity can be reclaimed.

Having long been in this region, Black Appalachians remain mostly invisible, while the dominant narratives of Appalachia depict an overwhelming, white cultural homogeneity. The Black in Appalachia Podcast challenges these misconceptions by highlighting how Black families have shaped and have been shaped by the region. Through historical and contemporary stories of people, places and experiences, hosts Enkeshi El-Amin and Angela Dennis interrogate what it means to be Black in Appalachia, creating space where under-told stories can be heard and Black identity can be reclaimed.

24hr 25min
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia Roadshow Live: Pittsburgh".
The Black in Appalachia crew goes on the road and records a live show in Pittsburgh
August 14, 202151min 38sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Immigrant Independence".
Black in Appalachia: Suraya Boggs, shares her experience of growing up in Appalachia as a second generation immigrant.
August 22, 202329min 3sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Frank X Walker".
Black in Appalachia: Frank X Walker
August 5, 202338min 12sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Cornel West runs for president".
Cornel West runs for president
July 21, 202353min 5sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: The 102 years of Clara Hughes".
Angela and Enkeshi talk with Clara Hughes about her 102 years living in Appalachia.
July 7, 202339min 43sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Black Safety".
Enkeshi is joined by Shaneda Destine, Michelle Brown and Ash-lee Woodard Henderson to discuss Black safety.
June 19, 202335min 50sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Y’all Don’t Hear Me".
We listen to curator Kreneshia Whiteside-McGhee and sit in with her for a conversation with Nikki Giovanni.
December 29, 202232min 7sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Letters from the past.".
Enkeshi teams up with four educators of  West Virginia University's national writers project to bring you letters from their archives.
December 5, 202233min 2sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: An update with Daryle Lamont Jenkins".
William gets an update from Daryle Lamont Jenkins of the One People's Project
September 25, 202232min 46sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Environmental Justice".
A live-recorded Black in Appalachia Podcast presentation with Pam Nixon, Community Safety Advocate.
September 11, 202224min 8sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Agree to Disagree".
Angela interviews Matthew Hawn and explores his thoughts on the label of Critical Race Theory in Appalachia
August 26, 202230min 11sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Birdwatching while Black".
Dr. J Drew Lanham riffs about birds, nature and his memoir "The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature."
August 12, 202230min 29sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Race First | Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association".
The Black in Appalachia podcast explores Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
July 29, 202231min 4sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Black by God".
The Black in Appalachia podcast reflects on the historical and contemporary importance of the Black Press.
July 15, 202228min 42sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Swimming and Pools".
Enkeshi and Pumpkin talk about Black people’s relationship with swimming and pools in America.
July 1, 202241min 33sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Punch Me Up to the Gods".
Enkeshi talks with Brian Broome about his memoir Punch Me Up to the Gods.
December 18, 202143min 53sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: John Henry".
Enkeshi El-Amin & Pumpkin Starr dig into the story of John Henry.
December 4, 202136min 8sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: #GiveBlackAppalachia".
On this episode of the Black in Appalachia Podcast, Enkeshi and Pumpkin discuss the importance of the giving season to Black organizations in the region.
November 19, 202129min 54sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Sepia Tones".
Exploring Black Appalachian Music
November 5, 202153min 37sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: A Hawk's Nest Halloween".
Enkeshi & Pumpkin dig into truly macabre tales of Black labor in the coalfields of West Virginia.
October 22, 202129min 43sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: The Harlan Renaissance".
Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin talks with the Godfather of Blacks in Appalachia, Dr. William H. Turner about his new book, "The Harlan Renaissance: Stories of Black Life in Appalachian Coal Towns."
October 9, 202140min 20sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: No Neutral Ground".
C.J. Hunt talks confederate monuments, their removal and the impact on our educational landscape.
September 24, 202146min 11sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Lift Every Voice and Sing".
Shifting the power in equity conversations from funders to community cultural workers and artists.
September 11, 202147min 7sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Power and the West Virginia Coalfields".
Enkeshi and Angela travel to coal country and explore Black life in the West Virginia coal camps, the Mine Wars and the struggles for Black political power & workers' rights.
August 28, 202129min 3sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Crystal Wilkinson: Perfect Black".
Enkeshi talks with Kentucky's Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson about Appalachia and her new collection
July 31, 202128min 41sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Berea College".
Enkeshi and Alona talk about the interesting history and legacy of Berea College.
July 17, 202135min 4sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Guns".
Enkeshi, Angela and Alona talk about owning guns and gun violence in Appalachia
July 3, 202134min 26sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Struggle, Resilience and Art".
A Conversation with Walter DeBarr about cultural separation and growing up in West Virginia.
June 19, 202133min 27sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Appalachian Drag".
Enkeshi and Pumpkin talk with Drag Queens about the ups, downs and being Black in the Appalachian Scene
June 4, 202124min 49sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies".
Black in Appalachia: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies: an interview with author Deesha Philyaw
January 9, 202147min 8sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Christmas Traditions".
It’s Christmas in Appalachia and the crew is exploring Black holiday traditions.
December 26, 202029min 56sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Melungeons".
Black in Appalachia: Melungeons
December 12, 202039min 34sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes".
Black in Appalachia: Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes
November 28, 202035min 9sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Nikki Giovanni".
An interview with Nikki Giovanni
November 14, 202027min
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: A Halloween Special: Cupid's Mansion".
Black in Appalachia: A Halloween Special
October 31, 202051min 48sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Election Season".
It's election season and Black women are on the rise in Appalachian politics.
October 17, 202037min 48sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: 40 Acres and a Mule".
40 Acres and a Mule: Reparations in Appalachia
October 3, 202030min 4sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Black Coal Miners and The Great Migration".
Black Coal Miners and The Great Migration
September 19, 202030min 29sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Nazi Hunter: A Conversation with Daryle Lamont Jenkins".
Enkeshi and Angela have a conversation with Daryle Lamont Jenkins about his work hunting fascists.
September 5, 202028min 13sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Sundown Towns".
On this Black in Appalachia Podcast Enkeshi and Angela learn about Sundown Towns
August 22, 202032min 5sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia: Emancipation Days".
Hosts Enkeshi El-amin and Angela Dennis discuss Emancipation Day celebrations, what it means to celebrate freedom and how we can keep these traditions going.
August 8, 202029min 57sec
Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia Coming Soon".
Black in Appalachia
July 17, 20201min 34sec

Black in Appalachia Roadshow Live: Pittsburgh

Thumbnail for "Black in Appalachia Roadshow Live: Pittsburgh".
August 14, 202151min 38sec

In this episode Black Excellence from the Steel City comes to life as the Black in Appalachia crew headed to Pittsburgh for a live episode at the August Wilson Cultural Center. Special guests include Marimba Milliones of the Hill District CDC, National Student Poet Anthony Wiles, and Artist Darrell Kinsel.