An Alternative View of Appalachia

Learn the history in a brand new way

The movie adaptation of J.D. Vance’s book Hillbilly Elegy, the story of a White working-class family in Appalachia, is now out on Netflix.

There are probably better ways to spend your time.

Earlier this year, Electric Lit writer Crystal Wilkinson compiled a list of 10 books that center around Black Appalachia, or “Affrilachia,” that seem way more interesting.

For instance, Gone Home: Race and Roots Through Appalachia is a compilation of more than 150 interviews with residents of Harlan County, Kentucky, that focuses on “race, identity, and politics.” (I just put this one on hold at my local library.)

Check out the list at the link below:

10 Books About Black Appalachia - Electric Literature