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Remember in 2016 when Trump made coal miners 1 of 2 campaign causes along w/ building a wall along the border?
Those were 2 sides of the same racist coin: Of the 300+ industry classifications in the USA coal mining is the single whitest. BY FAR. [THREAD]
Photo @dominickreuter
![Remember in 2016 when Trump made coal miners 1 of 2 campaign causes along w/ building a wall along the border? Those were 2 sides of the same racist coin: Of the 300+ industry classifications in the USA coal mining is the single whitest. BY FAR. [THREAD]Photo @dominickreuter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbD-PcVXYAELcFH.jpg "Remember in 2016 when Trump made coal miners 1 of 2 campaign causes along w/ building a wall along the border? Those were 2 sides of the same racist coin: Of the 300+ industry classifications in the USA coal mining is the single whitest. BY FAR. [THREAD]Photo @dominickreuter")
Those were 2 sides of the same racist coin: Of the 300+ industry classifications in the USA coal mining is the single whitest. BY FAR. [THREAD]
Photo @dominickreuter
A key Trump slogan was “Trump Digs Coal”. Many news articles justified it as part of a broader play for “working class voters”. Sometimes they would color their wording to clarify “white working class voters.”
But is coal really that white? Answer: yes. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/upshot/why-trump-won-working-class-whites.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/1...
But is coal really that white? Answer: yes. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/upshot/why-trump-won-working-class-whites.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/1...
The assumption was that he was looking for $$ from coal mine owners. But is that really it? The coal industry only supported his campaign with $223,000 in donations, which is a drop in the bucket for a multi-hundred million dollar presidential campaign. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/09/trumps-economic-policies-protectionism-low-taxes-and-coal-mines">https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...
Another suggestion is that his support for coal was from a desire for energy independence. Except that natural gas, wind & solar are also produced in sufficient quantities to meet our consumption. So a push for energy independence could have just as easily promoted them instead.
It was also implied that saving coal would be part of his broader anti-regulatory philosophy. Except that once he was in office he instead tried to impose heavy-handed regulations to protect coal using a bogus argument around reliability. https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/trumps-war-on-coal">https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/en...
The other assumption is that as a major employer coal was symbolic of the nation’s economic plight as a whole and therefore worthy of our sympathies. But there are 250+ other industries with larger employment. Ultimately, tens of thousands of coal miners are a blip compared to...
...the massive employment of 10+ million people each in sectors such as manufacturing, retail, education or health.
Apparently, coal was worth a lot more attention over all those other industries that have much more diverse employment.
Apparently, coal was worth a lot more attention over all those other industries that have much more diverse employment.
How white is coal mining? The whitest. It& #39;s not even close.
4.6% of the coal mining workforce identifies as Black, Asian, Hispanic or Latino. The next closest industry is veterinary services with 12%--more than 2.5x as many non-white workers as coal.
https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat18.htm">https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaa...
4.6% of the coal mining workforce identifies as Black, Asian, Hispanic or Latino. The next closest industry is veterinary services with 12%--more than 2.5x as many non-white workers as coal.
https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat18.htm">https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaa...
BTW, the least white industries are barber shops and taxi & limousine services, with 63 & 69% non-white employees.
Many of us who follow the energy industry closely recognized that saving the coal industry would be nearly impossible for a whole host of reasons. My piece in @nytopinion the week after Trump was elected is just one of many examples. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/opinion/the-coal-industry-isnt-coming-back.html?_r=0">https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/1...
I have to say that I’ve been closely following the energy industry for 15+ years and I just learned for the first time 2 hours ago that
coal is BY FAR THE WHITEST INDUSTRY in the USA.
How did I not know that sooner?
coal is BY FAR THE WHITEST INDUSTRY in the USA.
How did I not know that sooner?
In the end it’s hard to see coal as a critical priority from an employment, anti-regulatory, energy self-sufficiency or campaign fundraising perspective. Looking through the lens of the more obvious recent racist dog-whistling I think it’s time we re-examine his coal fetish.[END]
That coal is America& #39;s whitest industry & was front-and-center of Trump& #39;s 2016 campaign seems worthy of attention given the last few weeks.
@ailworth @DrRichReddick @Allison_Good1 @rye_journo
@KatherineBlunt @MollyJongFast @edward_klump @EthanAll @christopherkay @KiahCollier
@ailworth @DrRichReddick @Allison_Good1 @rye_journo
@KatherineBlunt @MollyJongFast @edward_klump @EthanAll @christopherkay @KiahCollier
