Debunking Appalachian Stereotypes Posted by Carley Suthers Last Updated: August 22, 2024 Debunking Appalachian Stereotypes Hi, I’m Carley, and I’m a proud Appalachian. Appalachia is a very specific and often misunderstood region of the South. And yes, while the Appalachian Mountains range from Newfoundland, Canada, to central Alabama, I’m talking about the five states that mostly encompass Appalachian culture—Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky. I, and many other Appalachians, feel our home gets a bad rap from the press, the entertainment industry, and others who view us only as hillbillies or rednecks. So, with all of the media surrounding JD Vance and the negative portrayal of “Appalachia” and its people in his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, as well as the Netflix film adaption, I thought now would be the perfect time for a real Appalachian to debunk some common misconceptions about Appalachia: 1. “Bless your heart” is not a derogatory expression. 2. Our accent does not mean that we are unintelligent. 3. While we’re on the topic of accents, there’s not simply one “Appalachian” accent. 5. We really don’t enjoy repeating words for other people. 7. Most movie and TV portrayals of Appalachia are highly inaccurate. 8. It’s not all biscuits and gravy… 9. We are not the white trash we are portrayed to be; there are many successful Appalachians, but the world teaches us to hide parts of ourselves to be respected. What are your thoughts? Did I miss any Appalachian misconceptions? Are there any fellow Appalachians who agree or disagree with my opinions? Tell me what you think in the comments below! Source link
Hi, I’m Carley, and I’m a proud Appalachian. Appalachia is a very specific and often misunderstood region of the South. And yes, while the Appalachian Mountains range from Newfoundland, Canada, to central Alabama, I’m talking about the five states that mostly encompass Appalachian culture—Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky. I, and many other Appalachians, feel our home gets a bad rap from the press, the entertainment industry, and others who view us only as hillbillies or rednecks. So, with all of the media surrounding JD Vance and the negative portrayal of “Appalachia” and its people in his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, as well as the Netflix film adaption, I thought now would be the perfect time for a real Appalachian to debunk some common misconceptions about Appalachia: 1. “Bless your heart” is not a derogatory expression. 2. Our accent does not mean that we are unintelligent. 3. While we’re on the topic of accents, there’s not simply one “Appalachian” accent. 5. We really don’t enjoy repeating words for other people. 7. Most movie and TV portrayals of Appalachia are highly inaccurate. 8. It’s not all biscuits and gravy… 9. We are not the white trash we are portrayed to be; there are many successful Appalachians, but the world teaches us to hide parts of ourselves to be respected. What are your thoughts? Did I miss any Appalachian misconceptions? Are there any fellow Appalachians who agree or disagree with my opinions? Tell me what you think in the comments below!
