Bedford County Historical Society Map


Bedford County Historical Society, Inc.

“As we look to the past,
the future looks to us.”

Black Days, Black Dust

by Robert Armstead
As told to Sharon L. Gardner

Black Days, Black Dust
                by Robert Armstead, ast told to S. L. Gardner

This book, the first published memoir by an African American coal miner, is a stirring tale of survival and achievement. Bob Armstead interweaves stories of family and community with a broad history of underground mining to paint an engrossing picture of the work, the dangers, and the drama of that industry.

Armstead remembers his childhood, growing up in a segregated coal camp during the Great Depression, and he recalls his family's efforts to confront economic challenges while also dealing with the reality of racism.

Engagingly told, Armstead's story is both a rich historical document and a moving portrait of one man's life and how he overcame adversity.

Cost: $18.00 + tax, shipping & handling

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