Author Emilee Hackney joined Amna Nawaz on the PBS NewsHour podcast “Settle In” to discuss the misrepresentation of the Appalachian region [1, 2].
The conversation highlights the gap between external perceptions of Appalachia and the lived reality of its residents. By addressing these stereotypes, the discussion seeks to broaden the public understanding of a region often reduced to a few narrow tropes.
Hackney used the platform to discuss her memoir, “All That’s Unseen,” which draws on her personal experiences growing up in southwestern Virginia [1, 2]. She said outside media and cultural narratives tend to define the region solely through the lens of struggling coal towns and substance abuse [1, 2].
During the episode, Hackney and Nawaz examined how these singular narratives erase the diversity and complexity of life in the mountains. The discussion emphasized that while economic hardship and addiction are present, they do not constitute the entirety of the Appalachian identity [1, 2].
By sharing her own history, Hackney challenged the notion that the region is a monolith of poverty. She said the prevailing stereotypes ignore the cultural richness, and individual stories, that exist outside of the typical media portrayal of the U.S. South [1, 2].
The podcast serves as a vehicle for Hackney to advocate for a more nuanced portrayal of her home. Through her memoir and this dialogue, she aims to replace outdated clichés with a more accurate representation of southwestern Virginia's social and cultural landscape [1, 2].
“The discussion seeks to broaden the public understanding of a region often reduced to a few narrow tropes.”
This dialogue reflects a growing movement among regional authors to reclaim the narrative of Appalachia. By pivoting away from 'poverty porn'—the practice of focusing exclusively on the hardships of marginalized groups—Hackney is contributing to a cultural shift that recognizes the region's multifaceted identity beyond economic struggle.
