Digging Our Own Graves: Coal Miners and the Struggle over Black Lung Disease

(Hardback)

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Barbara Ellen Smith is perhaps the leading historian of Appalachia working today, who also has decades of experience as a campaigner for justice. Digging Our Own Graves is her classic work on a disease that remains at epidemic levels in an ever more exploitative industry.

Reviews

"This book offers us a long view on the power of organizing around workplace health and safety that can help frontline workers from teachers to grocery and sanitation workers strategize now, but also develop long-term strategies for workplace organizing around the impacts of the less-understood, long-term impacts of COVID-19, which are going to force us to bring disability politics more centrally into workplace organizing." Jacobin "Digging Our Own Graves is a lesson on a public health disaster. Smith explores the deep roots of a worker power struggle in Appalachia that continues today." Celeste Monforton (Fellow) Collegium Ramazzini A valuable contribution to this important history. Grant Crandall Barbara Smiths updated edition of her book, Digging Our Own Graves provides a significant addition to the history of the battles against black lung from its beginnings to our current efforts against resurgent severe disease. Bob Cohen

Author Bio

Barbara Ellen Smith is professor of women's and gender studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.