In post-Depression-era Appalachia, moonshining was a way of life. It was a respected, although technically illegal, profession. It kept food on the table for the Butler family for over 100 years. Raymond Butler recalls his first job in the family business: “I was about six. My dad put me down […]
Read MoreTag: Culture
J.D. Vance’s View of ‘Hillbilly Culture’ isn’t a Prognosis for Appalachia’s Economic Decline — It’s a Symptom
As the coal industry continues its steady retreat from Appalachia, much is at stake for the workers who once populated its nearly endless sea of jobs. But many white working-class men are staying right where they are. A recent report from Business Insider evidenced this denial of the coal industry’s […]
Read More