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[fizmath]

I am originally from Alabama, and I was pleased to see this article published in the Chronicle.  Far too often, the negative stereotypes of Appalachia are all that receive attention.  Fortunately, in the last few years, more of the positive qualities of the region are being publicized.  My own interest in "mountain folk" has been reinvigorated over the last few years.  I plan to attend a sacred harp singing convention back home this summer to learn to sing some of the music I heard on the radio as a child.  Also,  I recently saw the 1970s documentary Harlan County, USA on television, so I plan to add some material about the coal mining strikes of this time period into my U.S. History II class.  I spend a lot of time talking about the Vietnam War protests and Watergate to emphasize the political and social unrest during the late 1960s and early 1970s, but I have neglected to mention much about the labor unrest of the period.  I thorougly enjoyed this article.

Dana Zimbleman
Jefferson College
Hillsboro, MO

Sacred Harp music is otherworldy when you sing it. Regarding labor issues in Appalachia, check out the warfare that went on between government and striking miners. I believe it's the only time in history when the US used an airstrike against their own people.

I think bombs were dropped from planes during the Tulsa Race Riots and also in the East St. Louis Race Riots.  I also think some sort of aerial bombardment was used against the MOVE black separatists in Philly in the 1980's.

With regards to labor issues, I think everyone should look into the textile mill strikes in the South.  I think they were in the 1920's or so.

[born2late]

Please forgive me for adding to this thread, but people should also read about the Battle of Athens. Google it.

[spork]

[. . .]
  (Perhaps if WVU students would stop burning couches, the stereotypes might die more easily.)

[. . .]

The Halloween tradition in my hometown was burning outhouses in the post office parking lot.

I agree with the argument that stereotypes are terrible - one of the best men on earth I know is a pipefitter from West Virginia - and should be challenged, but I guess I'm just a little fed up with books the titles of which purport that some oft-neglected group need to be credited with saving civilization.  (Besides, didn't the Irish do that?, or was it Jim Webb's Scots-Irish?)

The Europeans who settled in Appalachia were Scots-Irish white trash, fugitives, renegades, and ne'erdowells.  The English colonists set themselves up on plantations and towns on the good land closer to the coast.  Later arrivals had the choice of being regarded as dirty immigrant labor or of striking out for the mountainous Indian-laden frontier, where they would be poor but also free.  They formed insular  communities where it was better to procreate with one's cousin or dark-skinned neighbor than with flatlanders.  They had guns and weren't afraid to use them, drank moonshine, and detested anyone who tried to tell them what to do.  As for civilization, that was what they were trying to avoid.