Daddy (on left in 1958 photo made 1-2 miles underground) came to the East Kentucky Coalfields during the Great Depression. He worked as an underground coal miner for 34 years. I grew up in David Kentucky, a coal camp, in unique lifestyle that is now extinct. The Appalachian Arts and Crafts Store works with local artisans and natives to sustain remnants of the old lifestyle. The David School, located where the old sludge dam was has also revived activity in the old community and has had national recognition for its success with high-risk students.
In its hey-day, David represented a company-owned culture, within a rural Appalachian culture, and linked to a small "town" culture. I now study to learn how these concentric influences impact my life and my world view. I look at the social, economic, and political aspects of my historical influences. Daddy believed in hard work and Mother believed in education. I have pursued both. Education is one key to a higher quality of life; becoming educated was tied to hard work. My first "shock" at being Appalachian came when I heard my homeland referred to as " third world”. I was in a doctoral program at the University of Kentucky and listened defensively as I heard our cultural practices and language referred to as undeveloped and backward. My goal is to write and dignify my Appalachian roots in an insightful and honest way. I cannot ignore the hardships nor the dialect, but I also want to delve into the challenging psychological, personal and social issues of my people.
In its hey-day, David represented a company-owned culture, within a rural Appalachian culture, and linked to a small "town" culture. I now study to learn how these concentric influences impact my life and my world view. I look at the social, economic, and political aspects of my historical influences. Daddy believed in hard work and Mother believed in education. I have pursued both. Education is one key to a higher quality of life; becoming educated was tied to hard work. My first "shock" at being Appalachian came when I heard my homeland referred to as " third world”. I was in a doctoral program at the University of Kentucky and listened defensively as I heard our cultural practices and language referred to as undeveloped and backward. My goal is to write and dignify my Appalachian roots in an insightful and honest way. I cannot ignore the hardships nor the dialect, but I also want to delve into the challenging psychological, personal and social issues of my people.
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