Solidarity and fridge cigs.

#074

Miller’s Cemetery, Carbo, Russell County, Virginia. June 27, 2026.

Yesterday, I spent time in Cleveland, Virginia with a group of cultural and memory workers talking about monuments. Early in the morning, I got know a couple of central figures from the 1989-1990 Pittston strike (if you don’t know about this, you really should). Here’s a clip from an Appalshop film about the strike:

On the way home, I took my time and stopped to make several pictures. Rural spaces and two-lane roads almost always offer something that makes me pull over and reach for my camera. Yesterday was no exception.

I posted a handful of pictures on my Instagram.

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Here are some things that inspired me this week:

• I saw this video a few years ago, but I’ve rewatched a few times this week. I wish all American companies were as committed to their people as these folks. I’ll be a lifelong customer not just because of the quality of their products, but because they put people over profits.

• Southern Cultures has a call for papers on the topic of farm labor. If this is your jam, check it out.

• June is Pride Month and if you’ve never seen the film Pride (2014) (I hadn’t until Tuesday night), it’s an incredible watch. Here’s the trailer:

• Ever since my wife referred to Diet Coke as “fridge cigs,” I can’t get it out of my mind.

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Thanks for reading and sharing! I appreciate your support and hope you have a great week.

- Roger