PBS NewsHour’s “Settle In” episode features writer Emilee Hackney discussing Appalachian stereotypes and how her own upbringing in southwestern Virginia differs from common portrayals. Hackney says the region is frequently reduced to images of struggling coal towns and substance abuse, but those depictions do not match her experience growing up in a small town. In the conversation with host Amna Nawaz, Hackney describes growing up in Appalachia within a church environment that taught her ideas about gender roles and leadership. She also discusses how those early influences connect to broader political forces she encountered over time.
Hackney’s debut memoir, “All That's Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir,” is presented as a way of explaining the world she knew and of reconciling it with what she later encountered. The interview centers on the gap between stereotyped narratives of Appalachia and the more varied realities of residents, as well as the personal and societal factors that shape identity and perspective. The segment is part of PBS NewsHour’s ongoing podcast programming.
