This week, one of the central themes of our readings has been that although Appalachians have been seen as backwards, ignorant, and illiterate, most areas of the region have been quite open to the culture surrounding them and deeply involved with texts, commerce, and culture. In other words, most of the region is in fact not backwards at all. So, what do our chapters say about whose interests are/were being served when Appalachia is depicted this way? Why was/is it important for the media to portray the region in such as way?

To me Appalachia seems like a distant place when in actuality it is no more than a few hours from where I grew up, my lake house is within the Appalachian region as well as VMI. I believe that I am not the only one thinking that and I also believe that that may be a cause that leads to people believing in the backwards ignorant and illiterate societies that exists. It creates a feeling of Appalachia being its own place and not being influenced by other places just outside the region and travelers passing through the region. Furthermore there are T.V. shows such as the Hatfields and McCoys which provides a lot of violence between two families and the people that associate with them. There is also the Movie titled Lawless about moonshiners in Franklin County, VA also known as the moonshine capital of the world.

The chapters go through the moonshine, and marijuana, explain the hatfield and McCoys and even give insight into the post war violence and the infiltration of Northern missionaries. To me it seems the chapter gives these instances to give a little behind the scenes information and explain why it was that way, why the Hatfields were so violent with the McCoys and why moonshine became such a big thing in the region. It goes into detail what life was like during the civil war and the kinds of things the confederate and union fighters would have to do just to make it to the next morning alive. In the latter part of the chapter it talks about the incoming missionaries and what they did to help teach and improve the society in the nearby surroundings. They created schools and churches and even brought with them Northern convinces to help improve the way of life in the region.

On page 146 of Ballard’s chapter in Back Talk from Appalachia, Ballard tries to draw a distinction between those who buy hillbilly products because they get the joke(s) and those who see the products and believe the stereotypes they perpetuate. For this week’s prompt, I would like you to reflect on these statements. What do you think Ballard means? Do you agree with her or disagree? Does purchasing such products mean that you are supporting the stereotype the product represents? Is it ok for some people to purchase the products and not others? Are you comfortable purchasing such products? Why or why not?

For this week’s prompt, I’d like you to use your favorite search engine to search the terms “hillbilly” and “redneck.” What sorts of results come up in your search? How are these terms used both derogatorily and positively? Where do you see examples of people or groups using the terms in a mean-spiritied, condescending way? What examples do you see where Appalachians have reclaimed the terms and use them as something they are proud of? Are there differences between the two terms or people that use them? Can a person be both a hillbilly and a redneck?

I searched both Hillbilly and Redneck on google and went to the wikipedia site where each term was given a history a background, and what the meanings of the words are today. I found that both terms have deep history and can be used as both derogatory and positive terms. I also found that both terms have been adopted by its “people” and used in positive light. The main difference between hillbilly and redneck is that redneck is a widly used term, hillbilly pertains specifically to people in the appalachian region whereas redneck pertains to a poor white person in the southern United States but I believe it has an even wider use than that.

By using the derogatory term of hillbilly it means that the person is backward violent and uncivilized; it also implies that the person probably dresses very poorly and drinks whiskey. While having many derogatory uses hillbilly has been adopted by its own people and used in festival names and awards. Hillbilly also can mean someone is self reliant and independent. There have also been television shows centered around hillbillies that usually shows them as backwards people but can usually outwit city people.

Redneck takes on a derogatory term just like hillbilly but in a bit of different way; redneck is usually used to describe someone who is a poor farmer in the southern U.S. but also used attack a southern conservative. The term is also used to degrade the white working class. The reason this is done is because the term actually came from poor people who worked outside for a living and whose necks would actually turn a red color due to the constant sunburn. In my opinion the word redneck has done a better job of reclaiming itself into a positive term to its own people. There are songs with redneck in the title, there is a variety of jokes that start with “you might be a redneck if” and there are also political ties to the word. coalminers used to wear red bandanas to help unionize the different races and pull together as a group in strikes.

There are obvious differences in the terms but I don’t think that it stops a person from being both a hillbilly and a redneck. Both groups come from similar areas and similar backgrounds and a farmer that drinks whiskey, dresses poorly, and is independent and conservative could very easily be called both terms.

On the first day of class you were asked to write about your perceptions of Appalachians and the Appalachian region. I asked you to consider writing whatever popped into your head. How might your own upbringing (your race, class, gender, socio-economic status, ability, sexual identity, etc.) have shaped the perspectives you wrote about on the first day of class.

I believe that ones upbringing has a lot to do with the perceptions of not only the Appalachian region, but also perceptions in our everyday views. I’m sure its not wrong to say that everyone is influenced with each new piece of knowledge they learn, or a deep conversation they just had, or even something just as simple as listening to a song or watching a tv show. Personally I have different views than that of most of my room mates, we are all from different areas, we are from different races and cultural backgrounds, the social structure of our lives are different; even the things we do and experience here at VMI are different.

Talking specifically about the Appalachian region my views were different that some of what were written on the board the first day of class; when I gave my perception of hippies being from the area I got a few surprised looks. I have that perception of the culture because I have friends that go to Appalachian State and when I have visited Boone in the past i have always noticed some people who dress like hipsters and have also seen some cultural aspects of hipsters. I am also familiar with moonshine being made in the region. I think its fair to say that moonshine is a popular perception of the culture but being that my family has a lake house in Franklin County Virginia, also known as the moonshine capital of the world, I have seen it first hand numerous times. I’ve seen how easy it is to get a jar of “white lightning” and just how different of an area Franklin County is compared to that of Raleigh, NC where I live.