Working Class Love Notes #14: Song For a Hard-Hit People

My Memoir Cover Reveal and Pre-Orders Are Open!

Dear friends,

My book Song For a Hard-Hit People: A Memoir of Antiracist Solidarity From a Coal Miner’s Daughter will be released on April 21st 2026 from Haymarket Books. This memoir is my story, but it’s also an invitation for all of us working class white people to choose the side of multiracial class solidarity. Isn’t she beautiful? She matches my lipstick, my nails, and my bandanna.

This book, my memoir, is for Appalachia’s working class, in all of our joy, our suffering, and our fight for the future we deserve. May it honor our ancestors. May it shine a light on those of us organizing, building community, keeping each other safe, and telling our stories. May it be an offering towards a vision for the future where we all have what we need and every person lives in dignity.

In the midst of hateful divisive rhetoric, violent repression, and grifters writing elegies, let this one be a song.

To the “Redneck Army”, Hazel Dickens, Anne Braden, the Young Patriots, and all those who came before, it’s an honor to be in your legacy and contribute my story to our larger one. For my family, I love you. Thank you to Haymarket Books and my movement homes Showing Up for Racial Justice and Kentucky Peoples Union for making this possible, plus all my teachers, mentors, friends, and colleagues with me every step of the way. To my Haymarket editor Eric Kerl, my memoir editor Shawna Kay Rodenberg and my agent Anna Ghosh: thank you thank you thank you.

Pre-orders are up everywhere books are sold and keep your eyes open for a beautiful “redneck” pre-order package coming this winter — there will be merch! Also, as always: Please, please, please order and buy from your local bookstore. It supports our local shops and also lets booksellers know this is one to put on the shelves.

Finally, thank every one of you for reading and subscribing to this newsletter. Huge thank you to those who are paying subscribers! Your donations have contributed to paying for writing workshops, residencies, editing services, and more. Supporting artists is not just a kindness, but also allows working class people to share our stories with the world which is a political act.

Solidarity Forever! They’ll never keep us down!

Love, Beth