For people in Letcher County Kentucky, the media coverage of the mine disaster in West Virginia brings back many of the same images that they saw broadcast in 1976 when they had their own disaster at the local Scotia Mine. The community lost 26 miners. Natasha Watts wasn't alive during the 1976 disaster, but she's grown up seeing the ripple effects on the community. Natasha shares her reflections on what it means to grow up in a coal mining community.
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Piece Description
For people in Letcher County Kentucky, the media coverage of the mine disaster in West Virginia brings back many of the same images that they saw broadcast in 1976 when they had their own disaster at the local Scotia Mine. The community lost 26 miners. Natasha Watts wasn't alive during the 1976 disaster, but she's grown up seeing the ripple effects on the community. Natasha shares her reflections on what it means to grow up in a coal mining community.
Broadcast History
A longer and later verison of this piece was broadcast on NPR's Morning Edition on January 10th, 2006.
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Ben Lavine
Posted on January 20, 2006 at 04:57 PM | Permalink
Review of Growing Up in a Coal Community
People spend a lot of time talking about fuel sources like oil and nuclear power, but until the recent disaster, there was much less talk about coal mining. This piece talks about mining from the perspective of someone whose family has been mining for generations. It hints at a catch 22, when it talks about wanting to get a job other than mining, meanwhile noting that mining is what'll earn you a living out there. Nice piece.