1. I grew up in the Appalachian region and now live and work in a slightly different geographic area but still in Appalachia. I work at a university in an administrative support capacity.
2. Appalachia is varied and full of hidden diversity. The diversity is hard to see because the stories that show this diversity aren't always told and are not necessarily mainstream. The diversity also stretches back over generations making it hard to see as well. It is also hidden due to the isolation and difficult accessibility of the area. This results in not only people and stories being hidden and hard to access but also plant and animal diversity as well.
Appalachia is an area that suffers economically with a lack of high paying jobs, with drug use and addiction, and with trying to hold onto its identity while being challenged with stereotypes and trying to survive and make a living in the current world.
Appalachia is an area of fascination and fear for those who come from outside and continues to be exploited in intentional and perhaps unintentional ways.
Appalachian people are stubborn, clannish, and can feed stereotypes of ignorance. However, they are intelligent in ways that go beyond "book learning", they are resilient, they watch out for each other, they are creative, and they have a connection to place that is bone-deep.
3. I think change is needed both internally and externally. We need to see ourselves and our culture and heritage as something to be proud of and celebrated. We need to acknowledge our short-comings or the things that we have done wrong in the past and work to do better in the future. I think ultimately, we need hope. Hope that I don't have to leave the area and become someone else to be able to make a living. Hope that I will still be accepted in Appalachia even if I do go to college and come back with a broader perspective.
4. I think we challenge stereotypes through education and relationships. Ultimately, the best way to change someone's mind is for them to get to know you and trust you. Stereotypes have to be broken down individually as we interact with people and become what Appalachia is to them because they know us.
5. The beauty of the mountains and the strength and stalwartness of them make me want to hold my head up and challenge the negative stereotypes. The mountains also feel warm and inviting like a hug while still being mysterious and full of adventure. There is so much in this area to learn, engage in, and pursue that I can often become overwhelmed with choices of areas that I would like to pursue.
Amber R.
