| State tried to block reading of poem on coal disasters
Officials reversed course after backlash
Charleston Gazette
A high school student will be allowed to recite the poem of her choice at the West Virginia Governor's Arts Awards ceremony this week, after initially being told by state officials that she could not perform a piece about coal mining disasters.
The change of heart came after the circulation of an email from Tabitha Walter, grant coordinator for the state Division of Culture and History and the state's Poetry Out Loud representative, to Hurricane High School student Grace Pritt, a 2013 Poetry Out Loud finalist who was asked to perform at Thursday's award ceremony.
"I really hate to do this to you, but because your poem deals with coal and many state representatives will be there, our director wants you to choose a different poem," Walter wrote to Pritt in an email on Monday. "I'm so sorry about this. I'm just now finding this out."
The poem Pritt asked to recite is called "Black Diamonds," by Charleston poet Crystal Good, and is based on the widows of the 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster. An explosion at the Massey Energy mine in Raleigh County killed 29 men.....
Read the rest State tried to block reading of poem on coal disasters by Mackenzie Mays for the Charleston Gazette | 
