Tag Archives: Appalachia
The Curious History of the Hillbilly Posted by Gary Locke on May 20, 2021
There are few words in English that have as curious a history and an even more curious reputation hillbilly. It is derided as both hateful and a stereotype. It is also honored as an American tradition and a source of pride. It has no cultural equivalent outside of the United States because it is associated…
An Appalachian Christmas Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 20, 2018
One of the most distinctive and interesting cultural regions of the United States is Appalachia. It stretches southwest from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to the Smoky Mountains which border Tennessee and North Carolina. This snow-capped, evergreen-filled area is the living embodiment of an American Christmas card. Because Appalachia is overwhelmingly Christian in its…