Sapphire Mine Barbie
The Story of a Female Coal Miner
Glenda And her husband, Alfred, met while working in the Sapphire Mine in Isom, KY. After Alfred was diagnosed with Black Lung Disease he was forced to quit his job. Glenda says, “Without the health insurance I get from working in the mines, we’d be in trouble.”
After Glenda’s son Mikey completed high school in 2009, Glenda says that she gave him an ultimatum, saying, “You can either go to college or get a miner’s card.”
Mikey said, “I chose to go to school.”
Glenda is the only female coal miner employed at United Coal Company’s Sapphire Mine in Isom, KY. Although she works in difficult conditions, when speaking of coal mining she says, “It’s in my blood.”
Glenda dropped out of school in the eighth grade after becoming pregnant, but she has continued her education by learning about the mathematical and structural complexities of the mine. This has allowed her to advance her working status to a “pre-shifter,” which is also called, “a boss.”
After Glenda’s son Mikey completed high school in 2009, Glenda says that she gave him an ultimatum, saying, “You can either go to college or get a miner’s card.”
Mikey said, “I chose to go to school.”
Glenda is the only female coal miner employed at United Coal Company’s Sapphire Mine in Isom, KY. Although she works in difficult conditions, when speaking of coal mining she says, “It’s in my blood.”
Glenda dropped out of school in the eighth grade after becoming pregnant, but she has continued her education by learning about the mathematical and structural complexities of the mine. This has allowed her to advance her working status to a “pre-shifter,” which is also called, “a boss.”