right?

Because we are also moving in an ecosystem in West Virginia where major papers have shut down, conglomerates, the same story all over all over America.

But I think people are really invested in Black by God, especially through our Folk Reporters Program, which is citizen journalism, allowing folks that might be listening or long-time readers or new readers to get involved by covering city councils, public service commission meetings, all the places where the local reporter is no longer.

And that's because of the industry, the greater industry.

So in West Virginia, we are really struggling to have reporters at any city council meeting.

Right.

So, you know, I could keep going, but we did the 24 hour podcast, which was a great success.

What would you have philanthropy understand about what meeting the moment demands? What would you say to them about what's at stake and how Pivot's willingness to respond differently changed what's possible for Black by God?

Crystal is a writer, an activist, and a West Virginian who watched the news of Upper Big Branch as it played out on TV.

Black diamonds form on days like April 5th, 2010, the day that started just like all the other days, the other days just like all the days, the hundreds of days that the Earth fell in on miners, trapping them underground with nothing but their prayers.

This time on April 5th, 2010, 29 men died in what they call a mine disaster.

Others...

So much of, of the Upper Big Branch was, like, national news organizations seeing Black people on the news and being like, "Wait a minute.

Black coal miners?" Like, this country doesn't even know about the history, you know? The labor of Black men in West Virginia, and, and the families, you know?

This is her performing the poem next to the New River.

Industrial homicide, homicide, homicide.