guthriedm15's blog

Music played an important role in the labor struggles of the Appalachian area. In one sense, they brought light to tough times that the people were going through in 19^th and 20^th centuries. In another sense, they brought in money to certain families in the area. Also, it showed that people in the area were not as cut off from the rest of the public as many Americans thought, through songs that spoke about fashion in the non-Appalachian cultures. Generally, music was a good thing for the Appalachian area.

Country music, as we know it today, essentially began in the Appalachian area. It often highlighted the struggles of the working people in the area in songs such as “How Can a Poor Man Stand These Times” by Blind Alfred Reed. The struggles of these people were during a time in which railroad building and lumbering were the industries that predominated the area. These industries are not necessarily known for providing good living circumstances for their laborers. Appalachian music seems to make that very clear.

Music has been a cornerstone in the culture for a very long time. Music is often classified by the era in which it was released. An example of this is the music that was released during the 1960’s. During this decade, the American counterculture was the predominant scene among young people. The music that was associated with it has become so intertwined with the area that it would be impossible to separate the two into totally separate ideas. The music allowed the people to come together and make changes in a time that is known for political activism among the common people of America.