Rape of Appalachia

Appalachia has long been the victim of exploitation. The people who live here were either cheated out of their mineral rights or forced to sell them for ridiculously low prices to northern coal companies. The coal companies gave employment that was little better than slavery to the inhabitants. The companies employed mineral removal methods that were environmentally unsound. Strip mining and mountain top removal were the norms. These photos document the lasting effects of these practices and the effects on the people that live here.