A Hand Book to Appalachia: An Introduction to the Region is an anthology of books written by various academicians and scholars under the umbrella of the Appalachian Regional Studies, a project that was fully supported by the government. The 336 page 15. 2 Ounces colle3ction was published by the University of Tennessee University Press on 1/5/2006. The 978-1572334595 internationally recognized book has a dimensions of 8.9X6.0X0.8 Inches. As highlighted, it was written by a group of academicians particularly from the University of Tennessee.
Most importantly; its worth to accept that it was co-edited by Grace Tonney Edwards, a distinguished professor of English and Appalachian Studies at the Tennessee University. This emeritus scholar also couples this by being the Executive Director of the Appalachian Regional Studies Centre at the Radford University. On the other hand, Joan Aust Asbury, the co-coordinator of the Highland Summer Regional Conference teaches English in the same university. Lastly, Ricky L. Cox teaches Appalachian Studies in the same department with his colleagues. Actually, these are award winning authors who have written extensively, not only in their expertise, but also in other areas.
This book was written as a response to the rude observation in 1966 by the then University of Virginia that no serious research articles on the Mountain Appalachian region had been published. There was therefore, an inevitable need to publish a more elaborate book that extensively covers all the aspects of the Appalachian history, economic, political and social spheres in life. Hence, the book has a collection of articles on the Appalachian history, cultures, religion, tourism, education, population, gender issues, labor, migration, folklore, economic prosperity, coal mining, transport and health care, to mention, but a few.
This makes the book so resourceful to anyone who may be interested in visiting or relocating to this place. It has information on whatever one may need to know. This is useful as a reference to any topic in the land. This definitely makes this book be must read for anybody who wants knows something about these people. This is because it is well researched and presented in a way that makes it easier even for the layman to understand. However, even it is so informative; a lot of wild efforts must be made to translate it into many languages. This will eventually put this forgotten region in the world map.
On the other hand, the Eureka Mills is a collection of poems that were authored by Ron Rash. Rash was born in the year 1953 in Chester, South Carolina. Later, his family relocated to the North West Carolina where his grand parents had been staying since the early 1770s (Rosh, R. 2011). His father later relocated to South Carolina where he became a distinguished professor at the University of Gardner-Webb. After his education, Ron became a great writer who wrote both in prose and poetic formats.
Eureka Mills is the first book published by Ron (Rosh, R. 2011). This book which has a collection of poems derives its name eureka from a Greek word eureka meaning ‘I have found it’ It was written as an allusion from the Eureka Textile, a firm in which both his mother and father were engaged at the time of his birth. Even if they were working here, his parents never found peace- they were subjected to all forms of injustices and harsh treatments. For instance, they were overworked, underpaid and not offered any form of incentives.
As Ron recounts, the workers’ welfare was not safeguarded (Rosh, R. 2011). The management was not concerned about the health of the workers. Instead of insuring them, they were subjected to hazardous conditions that at times, lead to the death of workers. Even if people like Ron’s grandfather had moved to South Carolina to work in this farm, no one shows contentment in it as we would expect in a modern work place.
However, even if Ron is accredited for such a good work, critics like G.C. Waldrep and Robert West condemn him of concentrating on the pros of the company without telling us anything good about this firm (Rosh, R. 2011). This portrays him as a partial observer who might have been enduring to fulfill his preconceived notion about this firm.
Finally, the Removal of the Cherokees is a history book that unveils the challenges faced by the Cherokee Indians in the early American society (Green, M.D. 2004). It was co-authored by Theda Perdue and Michael Green, two distinguished scholars who in themselves are authority in this area. In 1938, the Cherokees were expelled from their ancestral land in the South East by the US troops. This was not only because the need to create more land for cotton growth, but due to the already existing racial prejudice in this part of the world. The whites in this region looked down upon the Cherokees whom they did all that they could to be eliminated from their ‘territory.’ Even if they had lived in this place for centuries, they were forcefully stripped off their territory by the colonial and the federal government.
They however united under one umbrella, something that was not taken lightly by these two great forces. This book gives very insightful information that can open our minds to understanding the plights of the marginalized people in such a great nation (Green, M.D. 2004). From it, therefore, we can learn that we should avoid racism and other forms of prejudice at all costs. However, the authors are criticized for being so empathetic and sidelined. They openly join the revolutionists in their struggle. I think they should give us the views of all these wrangling groups.
References:
Green, M.D. (2004) the Politics of Indian Removal: Creek Government and Society in Crisis. New York: Lincoln University of Nebraska Press.
John, A. (2002) Appalachia: A History. North Carolina: North Carolina University Press.
Rosh, R. (2011) Walking Spartnburg. SC: Iris Press.
