In the early-20th century, strikes and union battles were common in industrial centers throughout the US. But nothing compared to the class warfare of the West Virginia Mine Wars.

To celebrate the release of Black Coal and Red Bandanas, an illustrated history from PM Press, we're exciting to host a virtual evening with author Raymond Tyler and illustrator Summer McClinton. They'll be joined by Shaun Slifer and Kenzie New-Walker of the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum!

Black Coal and Red Bandanas is a graphic interpretation of a people's history featuring unforgettable main characters—including Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, Frank Keeney, and Smilin' Sid Hatfield—while also displaying the diverse rank and file workers who stood in solidarity during this struggle.

Raymond Tyler is a comics writer from Appalachian Georgia currently residing in Nyack, NY. He's a longtime social justice and labor activist, bridging “history from below” with comics. Raymond's most recent work is the horror comic series Amputation Capital.

Summer McClinton is a painter and comic book artist based in the Bronx. She has illustrated twelve books, including the Xeric Award–winning Thread, Michael Demon's Masks of Anarchy, and Harvey Pekar's Huntington, West Virginia “On the Fly.” She is an award-winning painter, illustrator, and art director whose comic work tends to favor notable historical figures engaged in the ongoing fight for social justice.

Mackenzie New-Walker has worked as the Executive Director of the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum since 2018, where she’s led several community-based projects dedicated to uplifting the people and preserving the places of central Appalachia. Kenzie was the Project Coordinator for the Battle of Blair Mountain Centennial in 2021, and shepherds the Museum’s fundraising efforts to secure resources and regional support to fuel the Museum’s ongoing work. She is proud to be the daughter, granddaughter, and great-granduaghter of union coal miners.

Shaun Slifer works as our Creative Director, designing and building all of our exhibitions, grounded in the collective vision of our museum team. Shaun is the lead designer on the museum's community-based Courage in the Hollers public monument project, and currently serves as the ad hoc Collections Manager, cataloging our artifacts and developing our online exhibits. Shaun is a founding member of the Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative, and an original member of the now-disbanded Howling Mob Society. His investigative people’s history book, So Much To Be Angry About: Appalachian Movement Press and DIY Radical Publishing 1969-79 is available on West Virginia University Press.

The WV Mine Wars Museum preserves and interprets artifacts and historical records of the local communities affected by the Mine Wars, exploring historical events from multiple perspectives through the lives of ordinary people. The museum is dedicated to educating the public about the events of the Mine Wars era. wvminewars.org