Hollow

McDowell County’s racial diversity is unique in a state where 93% of residents are White. African Americans from the South came to West Virginia’s coalfields at the same time as immigrants from Germany, Hungary, Italy and elsewhere. That same diversity can still be seen across the county today where 72% of Keystone residents, 54% of Northfork residents, 19% of Welch residents and 35% of Gary residents are African American.

This evening I had the pleasure of interviewing Rose and Roland Henderson of Kyle, W.Va. The couple married 49 years ago after meeting at Elkhorn High School. Growing up in the coal camps of Kyle and Gilliam, Roland and Ruth say there was no differentiation between Black and White families. “When they all came out of the mines they were all black,” Roland said about his father and the other immigrants. 

The Black American couple told the story of their first experience with racism after moving to Louisiana.

“We went to a movie together and we went in hand-in-hand,” Roland said. “The man said, ‘You can’t sit here. You have to go upstairs and she has to go downstairs.’ And I looked at the man and said, ‘Wait a minute. Her body is just as black as mine and she’s my wife so wherever I go, she goes with me.’”

It was at that point they realized their unified upbringing in McDowell was a unique experience not seen in the deep south.

Mary McKinney’s drawings of her “future McDowell.” Really inspiring documents here, folks. This is just a few examples of ideas for Keystone and Landgraff out of a whole package she gave me. I dare anyone to tell me the people of McDowell don’t have ideas for improving their communities. It’s time we take these ideas to those in power and make things happen in the coalfields.

Workshop 3 participants! These folks are working toward a more positive future for McDowell County.

(Left to Right back row) Shawn Penwarden, Tom Acosta, Brenda Goodson, Ron Serino, Mary McKinney, Gilbert Nash, Alan Johnston, Linda McKinney. (Left to Right front row) Michelle Miller, Matthew Goodson, Megan Bowers, Patricia Blevins, Renee Bolden, Elaine McMillion.

Before and After: The 2001 Flood, 11 years later #WV #Appalachia #documentary

Last week, Renee Bolden submitted footage she had shot during the 2001 flood in McDowell County. Just over a decade ago, Renee filmed a house float past her mother’s porch. Today we went back to all of the places she had shot and reshot the areas. Many structures have washed away and some improvements have been made. 

The three forms of video—footage from 2001, Renee’s footage today, and my camera footage of Renee shooting and talking—will be an interactive feature on HOLLOW once we launch.

The Power of Storytelling: Youth in McDowell Express the Meaning of Home via video #WV #documentary 

I went into HOLLOW without any background on how to teach a community to tell their own story and long story short, I have learned alot. The fact is I don’t need to have experience in teaching storytelling. The people of McDowell County know their story and they know how to tell it better than anyone else. Beyond some basic skills I have taught about interviewing, framing, audio and lighting, the youth here have truly embraced the chance to use the tools of video to communicate their story of home, hope and change. 

One thing I have noticed is that kids older than 14 or 15 show less interest and confidence in filming. Those 10 to 13 years old seem to be drawn to the idea of HOLLOW and have been producing thoughtful and beautiful content without getting hung up on the quality.

As I sit here this evening, I am literally in tears over video a 12-year-old Coalwood resident shot yesterday. Tyler (pictured above) is the grandson of Reba and Bill Bolt and took one of the cameras up to Homer Hickam’s launch site yesterday. Below is an excerpt from the conversation Tyler and his friend Nick filmed. 

NICK: Well here we are again. We are at the launch site in Coalwood, West Virginia in McDowell County. So Tyler, how do you like Coalwood buddy?

TYLER: It’s alright. Nice place to live, pretty view. If you’re from the cities you can’t live over here. Ya know you got to get used to these roads and it’s wild…there’s lot of wild animals running around through here and it’s just a good place to live.

NICK: I heard that we used to have stores, barbershops, everything. We used to have a clubhouse, well we still have it, and it’s still standing now it’s just not in shape enough to open it back up. They said it might have to take $1.6 million to fix it back. We got a pool, we got a park, and we got a store still. It’s called Country Corner, its good food down there, real good food. But usually we have to go to Welch to get other food like groceries and other stuff.  So Tyler what’s it like to be in Coalwood?

TYLER: It’s a miracle.

NICK: Do you think we will ever get all the stores back?

TYLER: We might. I mean it’s going to take a lot of money. If I ever hit the lottery I would probably fix this place up. Do some other stuff to it. I love living down here.

NICK: Do you?

TYLER: Yeah

NICK: I do too but it’s just…the environment these days is not too good. 

This conversation is just a small insight into the footage youth is creating for HOLLOW. I am so grateful that so many people-both young and old-have taken ownership of this project and started to create content about places that are meaningful to them.

Elaine

Robert Diaz at Community Crossing. This morning I filmed Robert and Sara Diaz, a young couple that moved to McDowell from Ohio to do mission work. The Diaz family say they are in “it” for the long haul and plan to raise their 3-year-old child here. 

Gary District High School before integration. 1953 yearbook submitted by Gary resident, Elaine Long. #WV #McDowell