Lessons from Appalachia in the 20th Century: Poverty, Power, and the "Grassroots"

Through an exploration of settings in eastern Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and western North Carolina, this article explores lessons that poor and working class people have to offer about grassroots activism in response to processes of economic restructuring and political disenf ranchisement. In addition to displacing simplistic perspectives on Appalachia, the purpose of this discussion is to consider how anthropologists might more effectively convey the insights of—not simply about—the peoples we study into public policy and debates on "the poor. [Keywords: Appalachia, activism, poverty, economic restructuring]