Slavery was not widespread in what became West Virginia, with about 20,500 enslaved people in 1850, making up 6.8% of the population. Slavery was mainly concentrated in valleys like the Shenandoah, Kanawha, and Greenbrier, and enslaved people mostly worked on farms tending livestock. In the Kanawha Valley, some enslaved men worked in salt production and coal mining, which was rare elsewhere.

During the Civil War, many enslaved people gained freedom, either by escaping or fleeing to Union-held areas. West Virginia became a state during the Civil War when it separated from Virginia, but it didn't yet become a major refuge for Black people. Slavery ended in 1865, and Black men gained the right to vote, but racial segregation and inequality continued. As the coal industry grew, many African Americans moved here for work, building strong communities despite facing racism, including lynchings and other unfair treatment. Some held public office, and Black schools and colleges were created.

After World War II, life became harder for African Americans as machines replaced many coal mining jobs. School integration in the 1950s led to the closure of many Black schools and colleges. Economic struggles pushed many Black people to leave West Virginia, but some stayed behind, continuing to build and support their communities.