With the rise of reality television shows focusing on rural areas and the recent 50th Anniversary of the War on Poverty, stereotypes about Appalachia have resurfaced on the national scene with a vengeance.
It’s been hard for Appalachia to combat these pervasive images and perceptions, but National Public Radio’s Sarah Baird , “Stereotypes of Appalachia Obscure a Diverse Picture.” In the article, Baird examines the history of ethnic and racial diversity in the region, and tried to combat the prevailing image of Appalachia as a solely white region.
It’s an issue that Berea College’s Appalachian Studies Center has taken on, too, analyzing 2010 Census data to create maps of Appalachia’s African-American and Latino populations. The maps (at left), paint a very different picture from that perpetuated by most national media of who inhabits Appalachia.“While the economic despair and major health epidemics are an unsettling reality for the region, a glaring omission has been made from the ‘poverty porn’ images fed to national audiences for generations: Appalachia’s people of color,” Baird writes. In writing this piece, she’s helping to reveal the complexities of Appalachia, a region so often cast-aside as too homogenous, and, as a result, backward.
It all brings us back to the economic transition in Appalachia. In order to move forward into a brighter future that works better for more people, the region’s legacy of diversity must be embraced. There can be no bright future for Appalachia unless all of her people are allowed at the decision-making table, or are at least considered by those at the table as very real, and long-lasting members of the region’s culture, communities and economy.
As Dr. Aaron Thompson, executive vice president and chief academic officer for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, said in Baird’s piece: “In order to fix the issues of the region, we first have to recognize we have a diverse bunch of people living there.”
(Flickr photo by DryHundredFear, Creative Commons license)
"When we talk about what holds Appalachian Kentucky back we often talk about things like infrastructure or education. When you get to know the region’s individuals who are at the brink of 'breaking out' and seizing new opportunities, however, others’ health problems often take on determinative role." #TransitionInAction
Transition in Action: Evan Smith, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center
appalachiantransition.org
Who are you, and what’s your role at your organization? I’m Evan Barret Smith a staff attorney at Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center. How does your organization contribute to improving health in the …
"I think we all understand genetics plays a factor in our health, but so do our eating habits and activity levels. When we recognize this, each of us can be real change agents of community health across rural Kentucky." #TransitionInAction
Transition in Action: Ernie Scott at the Kentucky Office of Rural Health
appalachiantransition.org
1- Who are you, and what’s your role at your organization? My name is Ernie Scott and I am the Director of the Kentucky Office of Rural Health (KORH) at the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health …
"Healthier communities will make us more attractive to employers. West Virginia used to have a reputation for a hardworking, healthy workforce. We now have a reputation for an unhealthy work force, which profoundly affects our economic development prospects." #TransitionInAction
Try This WV Highlights Health Transition in Action
appalachiantransition.org
Our guest blog today comes from Kate Long of Try This West Virginia, an innovative and community-driven health movement taking hold across the state. 1. Who are you, and what’s your role at…