About the Authors

Marsha Sutherland Self and Becky Riner White are two women whose lives, like so many in the Appalachian coalfields, have been forever shaped by the courage and sacrifice of the miners who worked beneath the mountain. Bound by friendship, faith, and a deep respect for their community’s history, they came together to preserve the story of the McClure #1 Mine explosion — not just as an event, but as a living memory of the people who endured it.

What began as a shared desire to honor those who were lost soon grew into a journey that intertwined research, personal stories, and countless hours spent listening to survivors and families. Through Our Blood Runs Black, Marsha and Becky give voice to the miners who went back in, the families who waited, and the community that carried one another through unthinkable loss.

Their work stands as a tribute to resilience — a reminder that out of tragedy came strength, brotherhood, and love that still binds the Appalachian people today. With every page, they ensure that the legacy of the McClure #1 miners will never fade, and that future generations will understand the price of the coal that fueled our world — and the humanity that burned brighter still.