Talk:Appalachian stereotypes

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 19 January 2021 and 30 April 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): JSchultzJr, Ahussain36, Tanner2021. Peer reviewers: Marissasantora, Dw00007, OlivierMenard88, Rem00005, Stokesskye.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 17:28, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Intro
The first sentence of the page is a mess. The whole introductory paragraph is informal and awkward. 66.179.158.5 (talk) 20:15 30 October 2017 (UTC)


 * I worked on the introduction and tried to structure it a little better without taking away information presented initially. I reworded some things so that it sounded less narrative-like and more formal Kmc0007 (talk) 23:51, 4 March 2021 (UTC)


 * the opening sentence is very out of place in my opinion and makes the entire article feel like an essay. Since it didn't seem like it added any relevant information that could be salvaged, I went ahead and removed it. But I think a new lead sentence could make the article more pleasant to read. --142.119.117.125 (talk) 11:33, 13 April 2021 (UTC)

"Get-er-done scenarios"
Not being American, I have no idea what this phrase is supposed to mean. I've now found it via the Urban Dictionary and other sources, but I think it would help if there were a link to one of them.213.127.210.95 (talk) 15:56, 21 June 2017 (UTC)

History
Currently, the economy of the Appalachian people is constantly plagued by poverty. Some families live on as little as $5,000 per year. Where and when is this annual salary information coming from, there's no source for it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Nate0023 (talk • contribs) 20:29, 16 February 2021 (UTC)


 * Regarding the salary, I found and cited the average income in Appalachia and compared it to the National Average. Additionally, "Bartering for goods and services is a common practice in Appalachia, and high unemployment is an issue in the area, so many resort to day labor just to feed their families" is a direct quote that doesn't have a basis in the cited article either. Kmc0007 (talk) 00:26, 5 March 2021 (UTC)


 * "Writer Sara Baird writes “Poverty tours conducted by presidents from Lyndon Johnson to Richard Nixon, almost every member of the Kennedy clan, and religious leaders like Jesse Jackson have all painted the portrait of Appalachia the same way: poor, backward, and white.”[16]" new to editing wiki articles but I'm wondering if this is necessary? direct quotes aren't really common for articles Kmc0007 (talk) 00:32, 5 March 2021 (UTC)

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"People-first language"
The introduction refers to "the Appalachian people and cultures." Do you think that we should revise for people-first language? People-first language involves placing the person before the adverb. Example of people-first language: "people and cultures located in the Appalachian region" versus "the Appalachian people and cultures." I am going to make this edit and an open to other editor's thoughts. KjessJKT (talk) 14:37, 18 February 2021 (UTC)


 * That's too wordy. I'm not sure exactly what "people-first language" is supposed to be about, but unless it can be done in a concise manner, it doesn't. seem helpful here. BilCat (talk) 18:52, 18 February 2021 (UTC)


 * Ah, we have an article on that at People-first language. From the first sentence in the Criticism section in that article: "Critics have objected that people-first language is awkward, repetitive and makes for tiresome writing and reading." That's something an encyclopedia should avoid where possible. BilCat (talk) 19:07, 18 February 2021 (UTC)


 * The Wikipedia article on people-first language is not part of Wikipedia's style-guide. Also, even though critics object to people-first language, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't use it on Wikipedia. I just don't think it's conventional or neutral to say "the Appalachian people" as if there's a singular Appalachian identity. KjessJKT (talk) 18:31, 19 February 2021 (UTC)

Title Change
"Appalachian Stereotypes" can infer that the stereotypes are being extracted from the Appalachian community, therefore, the title should be changed into "Stereotypes of Appalachian people," "Stereotypes of Appalachian culture," or "Stereotypes of Appalachians."

As shown in the other Wikipedia pages, the titles specify who the stereotypes are directed towards:

[] [] []

Dah0042 (talk) 05:05, 4 March 2021 (UTC)


 * I think you should make this change @Dah0042! Consistency is important. Rhizomesandranch (talk) 04:25, 5 March 2021 (UTC)


 * I second this title change. I'd recommend the move to "Stereotypes of Appalachia" or the aforementioned "Stereotypes of Appalachian people", though I believe the "Move" button that's needed to rename the article is restricted. If someone has access to this tool, I'd say go ahead and make the change. Wtvmaddy 01:19, 5 March 2021 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wtvmaddy21 (talk • contribs)

No mention of positive stereotypes
The article fails to mention that stereotypes of white Appalachian people can sometimes be positive, particularly in an anti-Black or anti-Native context. For example, one stereotype I have heard often is that white Appalachian poor people are goodhearted, honest, salt of the earth, hearty "old Stock Americans" living organically off the land, and so on and so forth, whereas poor Black people might be condemned within the same breath and problems within Black communities blamed on supposed "cultural pathology". Poor white people in Appalachia are often held up as the "deserving" poor, as opposed to the "undeserving" poor. Stereotypes about folksy white Appalachian people "living off the land since time immemorial" can also serve to erase centuries of white Appalachian involvement in settler-colonialism, theft of Indigenous land, and violence against Indigenous peoples such as the Cherokee and the Muscogee, among others. I think the article needs more balance, detailing both negative and positive stereotypes of Appalachian people, and incorporating more about non-white Appalachian people. Do stereotypes exist about Black Appalachian people or other Appalachian people of color? The article doesn't mention it, but I will research the question. Bohemian Baltimore (talk) 03:16, 5 June 2022 (UTC)

Organization and context
The organization could be improved, which I think is also impacted by a lack of context. There are parts where things are just sort of stated and then not really explained. On the organization front, a suggestion I have is instead of just an overview of the history of Appalachia, there could be a brief overview of the region that includes the history, with more complete, organized (and relevant) information about demographics and the like. Without that context it seems like random stuff is just being said, in turn making it feel disorganized, and harder to read.A snake wearing boots (talk) 03:17, 22 March 2023 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Introduction to Historical Studies
— Assignment last updated by Lizard Cowboy (talk) 17:01, 30 March 2023 (UTC)

Potential Addition to the Bibliography
Here are some sources I've found researching Appalachian stereotypes and their development.

Drake, Richard B. (2001). “The ‘Discovery’ of Appalachia”. A History of Appalachia.


 * This article goes over the “discovery” of Appalachia. In a more factual sense, the article discusses how Appalachia was viewed by outsiders, and how they laid the bases of Appalachian stereotypes. It mentions of the creation of the term “hillbilly,” and more importantly, it discusses William Frost’s contribution to/perpetuation of Appalachian stereotypes.

Harkins, Anthony A. (2001). “The Hillbilly in the Living Room: Television Representations of Southern Mountaineers in Situation Comedies, 1952-1971”. Appalachian Journal.


 * This article focuses on Appalachian representation in media and covers the perpetuation of the “hillbilly” stereotype.

Klotter, James C. (1980). “The Black South and White Appalachia”. The Journal of American History.


 * This article discusses the “discovery” and early perception of Appalachia and its people. It explores William Frost’s influence on Appalachian stereotypes, as well as his additions to them.

Massey, Carissa (2007). “Appalachian Stereotypes: Cultural History, Gender, Sexual Rhetoric.” Journal of Appalachian Studies.


 * This article discusses how images form stereotypes, and the impact of stereotypical imagery. It describes how it has been argued you can tell someone’s intelligence based off their appearance. It identifies how stereotypes function in a national context, as well as on an individual level.

McNeil, W. K. (1977). “Appalachian Folklore Scholarship”. Appalachian Journal.


 * The author argues that the popular image of Appalachians as the primary keepers of American folklore is incorrect. They claim that the collectors/collections of folklore themselves, along with popular media, contribute to stereotypes. It provides jumping off points to broaden research, like specific figures who the author argues contributed to stereotyping Appalachians.

Noe, Kenneth W.; Ronald D Eller (1999). “‘Deadened Color and Colder Horror’: Rebecca Harding Davis and the Myth of Unionist Appalachia”. In Back Talk from Appalachia.


 * This article primarily discusses Appalachian stereotypes in relation to Unionism. It describes Frost’s view on this, and how his contribution to this discussion perpetuated stereotypes.

Shapiro, Henry D (2006). “Appalachian Myth”. In The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture.


 * Like several of the other articles, this one discusses the (re)”discovery” of Appalachia. It focuses on the perceived “otherness” of Appalachians and people’s reaction to them. Probably the most relevant it’s discussion of the way those who wish to “better” Appalachia twist Appalachian folklore and folk tradition.

Lizard Cowboy (talk) 18:10, 30 March 2023 (UTC)

Lead and developing stereotypes
I'm going to add some to the lead as well as a section on how Appalachian stereotypes developed. Lizard Cowboy (talk) 12:21, 21 April 2023 (UTC)