National attention after the Upper Big Branch disaster from iconic Ebony Magazine has stirred local businesses and organizations to celebrate and embrace a diverse and under-represented aspect of southern West Virginia’s mining culture. 

Ebony published a feature story in its July issue about African-American miners through the tragic lens of Roosevelt Lynch’s widow. Because of the story and the subsequent coverage of the July edition, Crystal Good of Mythology, a marketing firm based in Charleston, learned about the event.

“Everyone should read the article,” Good said. “If not for the amazing love story represented, then for the history of African-American miners.”

Inspired by the story, Good became involved with the already budding Roosevelt Lynch Scholarship and started the wheels rolling on The Soul of Coal.

The Soul of Coal fundraising event will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Tamarack. It is a culmination of several local organizations that wish to remember the two African-American coal miners who were among the 29 who lost their lives in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion through a scholarship. The soul food luncheon will raise money for the Roosevelt Lynch Scholarship, a need-based scholarship to send local youths to WVU’s summer basketball camp.

After Lynch and Joel “Jody” Price lost their lives, the Oak Hill High/Collins High School Alumni Association quickly saw an opportunity to invest in a scholarship.

The alumni association contacted Susan Landis of the Beckley Area Foundation. Landis said the group wanted to create a fund that would be self-replenishing and generate scholarships forever. The groups wanted to do something for Lynch, she said, who taught in Fayette County, was an outstanding basketball player, and continued to coach and be involved with coaching area youth in basketball until his death. 

Landis expressed how excited she was that the scholarship will pay to send area youths to basketball camp. Not only does it “tie closely to who Lynch was and how he helped his community, it gives area youth a unique experience,” she said.

She pointed out many scholarships exist for students to attend academic camps or continue with their education, but no other provides students from disparate economic backgrounds the chance to further their athletic abilities in this way.

Landis assisted the group to complete the trust agreement, but to have a named fund there needs to be at least $10,000. The alumni did have a significant amount, she said. The Soul of Coal luncheon will raise money to add to the scholarship investment.

Landis said the Soul of Coal event is the brainchild of Good. Because Mythology needed a nonprofit underwriter to process donations, the Beckley Area Foundation agreed to act as a fiscal agent. MSU and DBD Law are corporate sponsors for the event and will assist to underwrite the expenses.

Good is grateful that Mythology has allowed her to donate her time toward planning the Soul of Coal fundraising event.

“I love my state,” she said, “and we have a responsibility to talk about the diversity in Appalachia.”

Good says the life stories of miners Lynch and Price are multifaceted.

“Theirs are amazing love stories, and a story about hard-working, educated people who chose mining as something they wanted to do, not as a last resort.”

For Good, the Soul of Coal event and luncheon will tell the story of the two men who gave their lives “just going to work” and “will celebrate African American miners and share that diverse history of south West Virginia. This event says something about who we are and the character of our people.”

The keynote speaker for the event is Thomas Jones, an NFL player with the Kansas City Chiefs whose mother was a coal miner. Locally known jazz singer Dorris Fields will perform at the event and Roosevelt Lynch’s niece, Nikkia Lynch, will sing gospel. A soul food, down-home type luncheon will be served and all proceeds will go toward the Roosevelt Lynch Scholarship. Those who wish to register for the event can do so at http://tinyurl.com/ soulofcoal or call DBD Law at 304-342-0133.

Good also noted that Valerie Goodloe, an Ebony photographer, will be returning to the event, not just to document and photograph it, but to speak about how her visit to southern West Virginia and visit with the Lynch family impacted her life.