Appalachia

[cowtime]

" Appalachia, a History of Mountains and People"will be on PBS Thursday night- local stations times may vary

I'm gonna be watching to see what they say about my part of these mountains, or what's left of them...

[Jack]

I've already watched it.

The producers came to my school and we watched the movie as a one-time only prieview showing for a small group of students and faculty, through our Appalachian Studies department.

Most everybody who saw it was outraged because it depicted our region as a totally impoverished, almost completely uneducated, prejudiced and backwards cesspool that is in pitiful need of help from the outside world and from within.

I liked it because of that. It was realistic.

While it did over-dramatize some things (to be expected, a documentary is still a kind of entertainment), it rang very true, on the whole.

[anniemcu]

As I recall, there was a feature in the National Geographic way back in the beginning of the 1980's on the subject. I found it fascinating and depressing, and ended up writing a song about it. Maybe I can get it recorded to post sometime with hubby and maybe a couple of others. It includes mention of the mail route. 8^)

[Jack]

Since you're an outsider, I would prefer that you watch the documentary first.

[emmline]

Since you're an outsider, I would prefer that you watch the documentary first.

How do you know?
What am I?
(just want to be sure about the parameters.)

[mutepointe]

I'm getting dressed for work and don't have time to find internet links. Do an internet search, you'd be amazed at what is considered "Appalachia." It's just not hollers. West Virginia is the only state entirely within Appalachia. Major cities are considered Appalachia.

[dwest]

Appalachia is usually considered to consist of over 400 counties spread across twelve states from southern New York to Mississippi. I think the socio-economic influence spreads beyond that. I certainly have seen this influence in counties east of "Appalachia" in Virginia so I would suggest the actual boundaries here are a little muddled.

[Jack]

Since you're an outsider, I would prefer that you watch the documentary first.

How do you know?
What am I?
(just want to be sure about the parameters.)

I know because I've watched the documentary. After you watch it, you will see what I'm talking about.

[jsluder]

Since you're an outsider, I would prefer that you watch the documentary first.

How do you know?
What am I?
(just want to be sure about the parameters.)

I know because I've watched the documentary. After you watch it, you will see what I'm talking about.

The documentary said Annie is an outsider? Annie, you're famous!

[Jack]

Yes, it said exactly that!

[Walden]

Maybe the song is outsider art.

[anniemcu]

Since you're an outsider, I would prefer that you watch the documentary first.

Before what, exactly, Jack? I do plan to see the documentary, but I have already read the NG study, long ago wrote the song, and, you are not the first Appalahian in my acquaintance.

[missy]

several years ago Cincinnati was trying to pass an "equal rights" ordinance. It didn't pass for various reasons.

It was specifically calling out "groups" that it would be illegal to discriminate against. The usual - African Americans, Gays and Lesbians, Handicap. But another group was "Appalachians" - because there are many living here that are from that area.

Since my ex's mom was born in Harburley KY, and the ordinance stated it would apply to anyone 1/4 of the group, my kids would have become a legal minority status.

Of course, since Tom was born in Parkersburg WV, he's also Appalachian.

[CHasR]

I dunno~ I think Im gonna pass this one up... I get the same kind of uneasy feelings about venturing into Appalachia that suburbanites get about venturing into the inner-city...
I feel rather displaced without concrete, traffic congestion & neon to console and re-assure me Anyone else?

[mutepointe]

This is the Appalachian Region folks.