Review written by Karen Weyant
Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle For the United Mine Workers of America; a review
By Mark A. Bradley
W.W. Norton & Company, 2020
I have read many books and articles about the history of mining in Pennsylvania, and there is no doubt that the coal veins of my home state are streaked in blood. Anyone who reads either fiction or nonfiction about coal mining that offers a romantic view of this history should take a look at more accurate descriptions. Mark A. Bradley’s book, Blood Runs Coal, is a great example of a work that articulately describes a chapter of Pennsylvania’s history that may not be known to many people.
In the early morning hours on New Year’s Eve in 1969, candidate for the presidency of the United Mine Workers of America Joseph Yablonski; his wife, Marg; and his daughter Charlotte were murdered in their home. Months before, Yablonski had announced his campaign to run against the corrupt president of the United Mine Workers of America, Tony Boyle, who had (among many other deplorable actions) stolen money from the union.
This may sound like a true crime book and in many ways it is, as Bradley traces the history of the friction between Boyle and Yablonski and thus, gives motive for the murder. Bradley also chronicles the lives of those who were hired to kill Yablonski and his family and outlines the timeline of the crime.
More importantly, however, Bradley takes the reader into the world of labor unions, especially coal mining unions of this time period – a time when many union leaders were greedy representatives that were out of touch with the workers’ needs.
Blood Runs Coal is both an educational and riveting read. I consider myself a well read person when it comes to Pennsylvania’s history, but Bradley’s book invited me into part of my home state’s coal history I did not know. It’s a must read for anyone who is interested in the role of unions in our state. It’s also a must read for anyone who want to know that those in power must be held accountable for their actions.
