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| The Hatfield Clan 1897 |
Dear Bookclub,
J.D. Vance has put the hillbilly culture onto our radars, compelling because of the timeliness in describing a culture that contributed to an understanding of November 8, 2016. In "Hillbilly Elegy", Vance cites:
'In a December 2000 paper, sociologists Carol A. Markstrom, Sheila K. Marshall, and Robin J. Tyron found that avoidance and wishful-thinking forms of coping "significantly predicted resiliency" among Appalachian teens. Their paper suggests that hillbillies learn from an early age to deal with uncomfortable truths by avoiding them, or by pretending better truths exist. This tendency might make for physchological resilience, but it also makes it hard for Appalachians to look at themselves honestly.'
There's a little leap here to our society's swing towards wishful-thinking. But that's another story. Vance's story became wildly popular with our last election's outcome given the spotlight he directed to the working-class whites. No easy answers but a personal breakout that is eye-opening for the revelation of addiction and stagnation, among other related obstacles.
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| J.D. and Mamaw |
Vance's official website includes a photo section of family and one caption that characterizes a noted trait in this culture: "(Mamaw would murder me if she knew I put this photo on the internet.)" - not to be taken lightly. And he wasn't referring to this picture.
http://www.jdvance.com/family.html
Thoughtful reading,
LK
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