Our Roots Run Deep as Ironweed: Appalachian Women and the Fight for Environmental Justice

I always find praise, gratitude, applause, and comfort in the strength of women. These feelings are increased ten-fold when strong women are generous and trusting enough to share their stories with me. I am grateful.These women, these ironweeds whose roots won't budge, are not against coal; they want responsible mining practices. These women found a voice they did not think they had in order to save their small, close-knit towns in a landscape that has protected and raised generations of their families. These women describe their activism as a moral duty or calling to protect not only their children and grandchildren but “an obligation to protect their communities, their heritage, their family homeplace, and the physical landscape that surrounds them” (p. 9). As Bell relates, here the landscape is more than a space, but is an extension of family and possibly an extension of their own souls (p. 9). The backlash towards the women takes many forms from city, state, and federal employees flagrantly ignoring laws and reformulating processes in order to protect the coal companies, to threats, to outright destruction of property or bodily harm. Donna Branham says of her determination to see their homeplace safe, “I plan to go forward, and when I can’t go forward, I’ll just stand firm" (p. 147).This is a beautiful book.

This book exposes the ugly side of America's dependence on coal. Appalachia, specifically West Virginia, is being "sacrificed" for the comfort we all enjoy in the rest of the country. I am guilty of this dependence, and thank this author for reminding us of the consequences of this madness. Let's move away from this silent killer to solar, wind, tidal and other sources of clean energy. Let the earth and nature of West Virginia rest and recover from this unnecessary catastrophe. A MUST read for any WV resident or conservation-minded human. Thank you Sbell.

This is a fantastic book that is very well written! Most of time books like these are for coal or against it. I love that the author incorporated a different side by saying being pro coal but also pro regulations. I believe that this is a book that a coal loving person could read and see the other side of the story and not feel like a big "environmentalist." It's very interesting about the concept of women being very active in taking a stand for their community and the reasons that are given. I believe the author portrayed the individuals in the book very well and in a respectful manner. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to gain more knowledge of coal effects.

The book is well written & describes the plight of many who have been afflicted by the mining of coal in their communities. I like the style that Ms. Bell used with her comments before the actual words of the person she was interviewing. I have not finished the book yet, but have been impressed with the amount of research that accompanied this book.

As promised

Excellent! Powerful interviews with women who have experienced the destruction and dangers first-hand.

This book is well written. The research that went into it is clearly extensive. This is an important topic that many people in our country are unaware of.

Enlightening. Touching portrayal of the strength and determination of Appalachian women fighting the mountain top mining companies for the betterment of their families and communities.