History of Minorities in Appalachia

One of the themes used in the beginning of the book is the history of minorities in the Appalachia area and the differences between their treatment in the past versus the present. Over the course of several interviews, it is clear that blacks in the area had a wide variety of experiences, from being cared for by white families and freed by Yankees to being harassed and hung by whites. In addition, even governmental authority seemed varied in their responses to blacks, as the military treated blacks with respect; whereas, the law steals land and improperly punishes black minorities. They were rarely educated and often left to do menial work. Through the stories of older generation minorities, it is clear the blacks of this area were treated as a lesser class.

At the same time, however, it is equally clear that these individuals take...