USA: The United States of Appalachia
As the story goes, the 19 year old Jeff Biggers hitched a ride with a trucker who promptly put him out when he made jokes about hillbillies.
"I'm a hillbilly, too," young Biggers added.
"We don't use that word anymore," the man replied. But he offered to take Biggers to the Appalachian South Folklife Center in West Virginia so the young man could learn the truth about mountain culture. There, Biggers met the center’s founder, poet and activist Don West, who told him, "You can't understand America until you understand Appalachia." The young man spent ten years attempting to do just that, and his latest book is the result. From Amazon.com:
The word Appalachia is seldom uttered in the same sentence with the word enlightenment. More likely, images of the film Deliverance, corncob chomping grannies, or bonafide gun-toting hillbillies come to mind. However, in truth, Appalachia has been a cradle of US freedom, independence, and enlightenment, as well as a region of progressive social history, literature, and music.The United States of Appalachia reveals to us how so many of our nation's basic freedoms and founding moments grew out of the Appalachias. From the first declaration of independence to the beginnings of folk music, literature, and poetry, Jeff Biggers illuminates with humor, intelligence, and clarity, the many reasons why we all need a lesson in Appalachian history.
Comments
Uh Oh! "We" don't use that word anymore?? I'm going to have to pass this on to my unbelievably huge family! (Our ancestors settled there in the 1700's). They apparantly don't know about this, as they still refer to themselves as hillbillies and wear overalls just because they like them. Are we Mountain Williams now? Just doesn't roll off the tongue.
Posted by: M. Lawless | January 31, 2006 7:59 AM
Don West, a tall man often clad in bib overalls...he radiated a quiet dignity. Every year a music festival would be held on his beautiful farm at Pipestem, WV.
Posted by: Sandra | January 31, 2006 10:34 AM
Appalachian history is indeed fascinating; I love it! I find that a lot of the old timers I meet are still delighted to hear a good hillbilly story. This sounds like an interesting book. I’ll have to take a look.
DL
Posted by: D L Ennis | February 1, 2006 12:54 AM
As an Appalachian, born and bred West (by God) Virginian, I'll tell you we'll call ourselves whatever we please just be careful what you call us...
Posted by: A Kota | February 23, 2006 10:39 AM