The Talking Appalachian Podcast
Talking Appalachian is a podcast about the Appalachian Mountain region's language or "voiceplaces," cultures, and communities. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Amy Clark, a Professor of Communication Studies and Director of the Center for Appalachian Studies at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. The podcast is based on her 2013 co-edited book Talking Appalachian: Voice, Identity, and Community. Her writing on Appalachia has appeared in the New York Times, Oxford American Magazine, Salon.com, on NPR, and Harvard University Press blog. She is also founder and director of the Appalachian Writing Project, which serves teachers, students, and the communities of the central Appalachian region.
The Talking Appalachian Podcast
When "Rednecks" Rose Up: Igniting the Labor Movement in Appalachia and What "Hillbilly" Means to Me
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*This is an edited repost of an August 29, 2024 episode*
The word “redneck” might have different connotations today, but its roots tell a very different story. In this episode, we trace the surprising history of the word, from its early association with solidarity among coal miners in the hills of Appalachia to its lasting mark on the American labor movement.
We journey to 1921 and the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed labor uprising in U.S. history, when thousands of miners tied red bandanas around their necks and marched for fair wages, safe working conditions, and dignity on the job. Their fight became a defining chapter in the struggle between working people and corporate power.
Along the way, we hear rare 1974 interviews (courtesy of Appalshop Archive) with two coal miners-Hobart Grills and John Tiller- who remember the stories passed down to them about the danger, the bravery, and the price of standing up against the coal companies.
Included in this episode: a discussion of the word "hillbilly" and what that means to me.
If you think you know what a redneck or hillbilly is, this episode may change your mind.
Music: "Roots" by Andy Bracken
Ivy Attic CoJewelry from coal, river glass, and discarded books handcrafted in the central Appalachian Mountains
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Unless another artist is featured, acoustic music on most episodes: "Steam Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten and performed by Landon Spain
