When we first began our fight for justice in the coal fields, I was both proud and excited. See, we here in the Appalachian hills have been oppressed and manipulated by so many outside people. Each one of them making money off of our lands, our people and our unique way of life. The outsiders took advantage of us, from the US government to the big corporations, but when the common man decides to address some of their problems we are given a few choice names. Some call us radicals, extremists and others just label us as activists. Radicals, extremists, and activists all have one thing in common in Appalachia; we are tired of being treated in an unfair manner and we are addressing that social injustice.

My thoughts often turn to our local activists. According to Encarta Encyclopedia, an activist is one which has a theory or performs a practice based on an action to oppose or support a social or political end. I guess that is a realizable way to describe Appalachians that are frustrated from all the complaints and law suits and other means we continue to try over the years to get someone to stop the damage from occurring to our homes, water wells, streams, and lands from irresponsible mining. But I think our activists are people who have heart felt convictions and a desire to see that things change for them, that is, until something more important comes to light. That something else maybe a threat to their jobs, homes, or families - well, now, what does that say of our people?

Jack Webber stated in his book, Darkness before Dawn, that people view us as hillbillies that are clannish and suspicious people and complices in our desolation. I disagree, we are not complices, we are still a culture that places a great deal of importance on our families, homes, and jobs (which I would like to remind the rest of the nation that we have few jobs in WV, so if we have a job we make every effort to keep it, even if that means keeping our mouths shut about mining practices that occur outside of the state regulations).

We activists and our concerns are not to be dismissed because we have so much trouble knowing the proper way to go about addressing our problems. Make no mistakes, we may be having trouble getting started but started we are. Our people's most admirable characteristics are a deep love of our land and families, and our great determination to protect what is ours. We have a proud culture to hand down to our descendants. We will find a way of preserving that heritage and of getting the powers that be to listen to us. I'm proud to be an Appalachian activist!

Long live the mountaineers and their way of life!

May your cupboards always be full, your hearts be light, and from your front porch may the view you see always have in it the mountains your granddad left you.