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COVID-19 exposed the contempt society has for marginalized people. The author of a new book says these folks are anything but passive.
Also, rock climbers with disabilities have found a home in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, which offers some pumpy crags.
And, the online world of Appalachian memes and what they tell us about the folks who live here.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
More than one million Americans have died from COVID-19. Some groups of folks died at much higher rates than others. And those deaths tended to follow lines of race, class, age and disability. In other words, conditions that were already making life harder for some people played out during the pandemic, too.
A new book digs deeper; it’s titled Disposable: America’s Contempt for the Underclass. It’s written by Sarah Jones, a reporter at New York Magazine who grew up in Appalachia.
The mountains of Appalachia are home to some killer rock climbing. And, in a lot of cases, its crags and cliffs are fairly easy to get to. That’s why some groups are choosing Appalachia as a climbing destination, a place to return to time and time again.
In 2023, Emily Chen-Newton reported this story about why climbing festivals are making a home in Appalachia.
Electricity prices continue to rise and people aren’t happy about it. In West Virginia, Appalachian Power customers have been paying hundreds of millions of dollars in hidden costs. That money is going to buy power from two coal plants that aren’t even located in the state.
WVPB’s Curtis Tate has more.
Humor runs deep here in Appalachia. Even online, where memes about mountain life seem to go viral all the time.
Last fall, Folkways Reporter Madeline Miller brought us this story about two artists who’ve taken holler humor to the digital realm.
Finally, apple cores, potato peels and other food waste are a big climate problem when they end up in landfills. Now, the city of Pittsburgh is giving residents a chance to save their food waste from becoming just trash. People can drop off food waste at city-run farmers markets, where it then becomes compost.
The Allegheny Front’s Isabell Kim visited the farmers market in the East Liberty neighborhood and brings us this report.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Gerry Milnes, John Inghram, Tim Bing, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Clara Haizlett.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
While the West Virginia Legislature may consider hundreds of bills during the 60-day session, there is only one thing they are required by the state constitution to do and that is to pass a balanced budget. The state is not allowed to operate in a deficit. News Director Eric Douglas spoke with House Finance Committee Chair Vernon Criss, R-Wood, and Minority Chair of House Finance Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia, to discuss the process for creating the state budget.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsThis week, some of the stories on our show inspired college student art — including a vivid image of a bear smashing a clarinet. Also, a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia serves vegetarian food made in three sacred kitchens. And, COVID-19 exposed the contempt society has for marginalized people. One author says, these folks are anything but passive.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsThe "Do Not Drink" distinction means residents of the Town of Wayne can use their city water supply for all normal purposes except for cooking and drinking.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsOur program, Inside Appalachia, in December was tagged in an Instagram post by WVU Professor of Art Joseph Lupo. The post showcased four-color reductive relief prints made by WVU students — each one inspired by a story or episode they heard on the show.
Continue Reading Take Me to More News
