Affrilachian author Crystal Wilkinson embraces Appalachian roots

[theHandpuppet]

http://www.blufftonicon.com/news/2014/04/04/author-embraces-appalachian-roots
Author embraces Appalachian roots
Posted by Paula Scott on April 4, 2014 - 8:43am

Speaking to a Bluffton University audience on April 1, self-described “Affrilachian” writer Crystal Wilkinson shared her experiences of growing up black in rural Kentucky and learning to embrace her heritage.

Wilkinson came to Bluffton as guest author for the university’s 30th annual English Festival, an event that gives high school students the opportunity to read and write with working authors. Among Wilkinson’s work is “Blackberries, Blackberries,” which won the 2002 Chaffin Award for Appalachian Literature.

Appalachia isn’t just Kentucky, she noted. The region is home to approximately 25 million people and consists of all or part of several states, including southeastern Ohio.

Much of the region’s black population can be traced to slavery, she said. Those who settled in the area after the Civil War and began to cultivate their own farms are the ones she considers her people. “Every black person I knew was a relative,” she said.... MORE

[theHandpuppet]

1. More links for Crystal Wilkinson

Her blog:
http://crystal-wilkinson.blogspot.com/

Biography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Wilkinson

[A Little Weird]

2. Cool - thanks for the info

I knew she was from Kentucky but I did not realize that she grew up only about 10 mi from where I grew up! She was older than me so we never knew each other, but I look forward to reading her works. It's neat to be able to read someone else's perspective about a place you know.

[theHandpuppet]

3. Berea College, author show diversity of Appalachia

The Lexington Herald Leader
Berea College, author show diversity of Appalachia
By Merlene Davis
Herald-Leader columnist
June 30, 2014

Lexington author Crystal Wilkinson was recently named the Appalachian Writer-in-Residence at Berea College.

I know it doesn't seem like that big a deal. Authors serving as writers-in-residence are a common occurrence.

But Wilkinson, who is black, will serve as the Appalachian writer-in-residence. That designation is a hat-tip to all the black people who have made a home in Appalachia, but who have never been acknowledged...

..."It validates me as an Appalachian," said Wilkinson, who grew up in Casey County

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/06/30/3316798/merlene-davis-berea-college-author.html#storylink=cpy