The miners who took part in the Battle of Blair Mountain in September 1921 were a formidable force of 10,000 strong. Fueled by their radical belief in the American dream, they charged up the slope of Blair Mountain. However, they were met with fierce resistance. An Associated Press reporter, hiding behind a log with field glasses, witnessed the miners being pushed back each time they tried to advance by a “veritable wall” of machine gunfire. As the bullets rained down, the miners also had to contend with tear gas, explosive powder, and metal bolts dropped from biplanes above. It was a brutal battle where the miners were pitted against Sheriff Don Chafin and his deputies, who terrorized the citizens of Logan County on behalf of the coal companies. Despite being outnumbered, Chafin’s superior position and weapons gave him the advantage. The situation was described as “ACTUAL WAR IS RAGING IN LOGAN” by a local newspaper.
The miners were fighting for their right to unionize and put an end to the oppressive “mine guard system” enforced by armed guards hired by the coal companies. John L. Lewis, the president of the United Mine Workers of America, had warned that unless the mine guard system was eradicated, peace would never be achieved in the region. On September 4, federal troops arrived at Blair Mountain, but their presence was not to liberate the miners. With concerns that the conflict could spread to other states, the troops instructed the miners to stand down, and they reluctantly complied, asserting their loyalty to the national government. Although the miners were ultimately defeated, their struggle was not in vain. Their fight for rights, including the right to collective bargaining, would later be recognized and enshrined in law as part of the New Deal. The Battle of Blair Mountain remains a significant moment in American history, marking the largest working-class uprising and armed insurrection since the Civil War.
Despite its historical significance, Blair Mountain has been largely neglected. Unlike other battlefields, it has not been studied or commemorated. There are no statues or tourist attractions dedicated to it, and few people in West Virginia are aware of its story.
I come from a long line of West Virginians, with my family having lived in the state for generations. However, I always felt an urge to explore beyond the blue ridges, encouraged by my grandmother who had herself sought opportunities outside the state. I left West Virginia to study international relations in college and tried to distanced myself from the challenges facing my home. However, as the opioid crisis and other struggles intensified, I realized I needed to reconnect with my roots.
During the pandemic, I returned to West Virginia seeking solace and a better understanding of my home. Surrounded by the natural beauty and serenity of the hills, I felt a profound connection to the land and its people. I reconnected with childhood friends at the river and witnessed the awe-inspiring wonders of nature. The longer I stayed, the more I yearned to learn about the complex history of West Virginia and the contradictions that define it.
One pivotal piece of history that shocked me was the Battle of Blair Mountain. It seemed inconceivable that my great-grandmother, a proud West Virginian who had won a prestigious award for her knowledge of state history, had never mentioned this violent event. I discovered I was not alone in my ignorance. Many West Virginians, including students and even history teachers, are unaware of the Mine Wars or Blair Mountain. The state’s textbooks and educational curriculum have deliberately omitted the topic for over 50 years.
The attempt to erase the memory of Blair Mountain goes beyond textbooks. In 2009, the battlefield was delisted from the National Register of Historic Places under pressure from the coal industry, opening it up to mountaintop removal mining, a destructive practice. This erasure of history and the destruction of the land speaks to a larger struggle for identity and belonging in the state. According to scholars, the state’s new “Mind Guard System” acts as a barrier, preventing us from acknowledging the past and understanding the present.
I recall my first visit to the State Capitol as a fifth-grader, excited to learn about how laws were made. Instead, the focus was on the opulence of the building, leaving me with a sense of discomfort as I compared it to the trailers some of my classmates lived in. This disparity has only grown more apparent in recent years, leading to a political crisis.
It is time to shed light on West Virginia’s hidden history and confront the challenges that persist. The struggles faced by the miners at Blair Mountain and the ongoing issues like the opioid crisis and economic decline cannot be ignored. By acknowledging our past and working towards a better future, we can redefine what it means to be both beautiful and burdened in West Virginia. Only through understanding our history can we begin to heal and shape a brighter destiny for our state.
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