Derek Akal's guest appearances

Derek Akal

Mountain Talk

Making Connections News

Attica Scott

Anthony Flaccavento

Ronni Lundy

Jason Bailey

Nikki Giovanni

Sarah Smarsh

Matthew Algeo

William Turner

Dustin Anderson

Austin Rutherford

Kay Adams

Jean Ritchie

Bob Stutman

Neenah Ellis

Nikky Finney

OwlTail

Derek Akal, 22, grew up in the famed coalfields of Harlan County, Kentucky. He’s a bit over six feet tall, he’s black, and he has an athlete’s build. Like many young people in central Appalachia, he is torn between a desire to find work at home where he can be close to family and the community he knows, or whether to venture out to other parts where there might be more opportunities for a young man. WMMT Reporter Benny Becker followed Derek for over a year as he explored his options for his future.

Derek Akal's Struggle To Stay

Continuing our month-long series celebrating Black histories, current realities, and futures in the Appalachian region and beyond - we bring you the story of Derek Akal - a 22-year-old African-American athlete struggling to stay in Lynch, KY where he was raised. WMMT’s Benny Becker followed Akal for a four part series which originally aired on West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Inside Appalachia. This episode also features a 2016 interview with sociologist Karida Brown - Akal's cousin and the Director of the Eastern Kentucky African American Migration Project.