What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia

by Elizabeth Catte

there is no basis for the belief that historic or contemporary white Appalachians share a distinct culture informed by their homogenous ethnic heritage. In fact, fighting that myth has been the life’s work of many Appalachian historians.

Why then do people in East Tennessee always feel the need to distinguish themselves as different from Middle and West Tennessee? Why is their language different? Why the popularity of Bluegrass and folk songs rooted in a tradition traceable to the Scotland, Ireland, England or Wales?

I disagree. Everybody I know identifies themselves as something other than what she is describing.

She sat right beside me when Dr. Sklenar said this was true and was the reason why he came to Tennessee