Frank X Walker And Flood Stories Past And Present, Inside Appalachia

This week, Affrilachian poet Frank X Walker has a new collection of poetry that looks at Black life in Kentucky before, during, and after the Civil War.

We also check in with the people affected by flooding in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

A new collection of essays and poems remembers the 2022 flood in Eastern Kentucky witnessed by writers trapped at the Appalachian Writers Workshop.

And bird watching only sounds relaxing. Sometimes, it can get a little wild.

In This Episode

• Frank X Walker Explores The Civil War
• Witnessing The Historic Flooding Of East Kentucky
• The Historic Flooding in Western North Carolina and Tennessee
• Endangered Birds of Appalachia

Frank X Walker Explores The Civil War

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Kentucky poet Frank X Walker co-founded the Affrilachian Poets Collective to challenge the idea that Appalachian identity is defined by whiteness. He’s published several collections and now has a new book, “Load in Nine Times.” Mason Adams spoke with him. 

The Historic Flooding In Western North Carolina And Tennessee

Hurricane Helene left many without water, power or cell service in western North Carolina and east Tennessee. We heard reports from Gerard Albert III at Blue Ridge Public Radio and Riley Thompson at WUOT about communities struggling and coming together in the aftermath of the flood.

Witnessing The Historic Flooding Of East Kentucky

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Flooding is not uncommon in Appalachia. In 2022, parts of Eastern Kentucky were also ravaged. Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, an author from the Qualla Boundary, the territory of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina was at the Appalachian Writer’s Workshop in Hindman, Kentucky, when it was struck by the thousand-year flood. Her writing is included in the new anthology, “Troublesome Rising,” which compiles poetry and stories from writers who witnessed the flood. 

B-P-R and Grist climate reporter Katie Myers spoke with Clapsaddle about flooding in the mountains. 

Endangered Birds of Appalachia

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Nature photographer Matt Williams hopes a passion for bird watching might lead people to conservation. He’s published three books of photographing wildlife, including his latest — “Endangered and Disappearing Birds of Appalachia and the Southeast.” Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Williams about the book. 

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Amethyst Kiah, Larry Rader, Jeff Ellis, John Blissard, Sierra Ferrell and Blue Dot Sessions.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi 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 Jennifer Goren. You can find us on Instagram @InAppalachia.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.