Hillbilly Elegy: Memories of a family and culture in crisisthe 2016 memoir of Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance, garnered renewed interest after former President Donald Trump named Vance as his running mate. Many read the memoir to understand Vance’s background, a key element of his political persona. However, the book has sparked debate over its portrayal of life in Appalachia.
Pulitzer Prize winner Barbara Kingsolver feels compelled to counter Vance’s narrative. She criticizes Hillbilly Elegy for perpetuating stereotypes by portraying it as a personal success story overshadowed by derogatory generalizations about the people who remained in Appalachia. Kingsolver argues, “The same old cliche of victim blaming was used. I disagree. And that’s my job, to tell a different story.”
The memoir has been widely criticized, especially by authors who specialize in the region. Vance claims that Appalachian culture “fosters social decay” and cites his upbringing as central to his political views and ideology.
Many Appalachian writers, including Kingsolver, question Vance’s portrayal of the region. Her novel Demon Copperheadwhich offers a fictional yet insightful look into the same communities, was named one of the New York Times’ The best books of the century just before the Republican convention. Last year it also won a Pulitzer Prize.
As Hillbilly Elegy attracts more readers, these authors continue to challenge the assumptions laid out in Vance’s narrative, aiming to present a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of life in Appalachia.
Vance describes his childhood in Middletown, Ohio, while spending much time in Jackson, Kentucky. Despite his strong affinity for these areas, his memoirs have created a cultural divide between himself and the native peoples of Appalachia.
Kingsolver noted that Vance’s previous comments, such as calling several Democrats “childless cat ladies who are unhappy with their own lives,” reflected her disappointment with Hillbilly ElegyShe felt that Vance’s memoirs lacked an authentic understanding of the community he supposedly represented.
Other Appalachians have also highlighted this problem. Meredith McCarroll and Anthony Harkins have jointly Reckoning with the Appalachians: A region reacts to the Hillbilly Elegywhich critiques Vance’s book from a variety of scholarly, poetic, and narrative perspectives. Harkins notes that it is problematic to generalize one person’s experiences and extrapolate them to the entire region, especially given the historical stereotypes and misrepresentations that Appalachia has faced.
McCarroll, who is also from Appalachia, emphasizes the importance of presenting diverse authentic voices, arguing that Appalachia is far too complex to be understood through a single narrative like Vance’s.
Historian Elizabeth Catte, author of What you misunderstand about Appalachiacriticizes authors who rely on stereotypes to tell their stories and calls for more authentic portrayals of the region. Catte believes such narratives should take into account the history of Appalachia and the economic factors that shape its present.
Despite the popularity of Hillbilly ElegyMany feel it misses important aspects of life in Appalachia. Harkins stresses the importance of considering the region’s economic history, particularly the impact of extractive industries such as coal mining and fracking.
Vance’s memoir found an audience among conservatives and readers outside of Appalachia and served as a lens for understanding Trump’s supporters in the 2016 election. But critics say the book’s portrayal leaves out important pieces of the Appalachian puzzle.
Kingsolver and others want to present a more comprehensive and accurate picture. For Kingsolver, writing Demon Copperheadwhich won the Pulitzer Prize, was about fostering empathy and breaking down simplistic stereotypes. “You have to give people characters they love and believe in,” she says.
When Demon Copperhead won the Pulitzer Prize, Appalachia celebrated. “So many people here, even my mailman and the cashier at the grocery store, said, ‘This is unbelievable. We won,'” Kingsolver recalls.
McCarroll believes that diverse stories enrich understanding, pointing out that a diversity of narratives can challenge the often-prevailing monolithic portrayal of Appalachia.
Kingsolver’s work aims to combat the often one-sided portrayal of Appalachia in the mainstream media, emphasizing the importance of reflecting the region’s diversity and challenging preconceived notions about its socioeconomic conditions.
For Kingsolver and its readers, Demon Copperhead has succeeded in changing the perception of Appalachia. Hearing from people who have reconsidered their prejudices after reading her novel was deeply gratifying for the author.
Although Hillbilly Elegy While Appalachian writers remain influential, they continue to offer alternative narratives, striving to tell the full, more complex story of their region, focusing on both its challenges and its resilience.
In response to their recognition at the New York Times’ list, Kingsolver reflected in an Instagram post: “Since a certain other ‘hillbilly’ book is suddenly on the rise, it’s my duty. No elegies here. Thanks.”
Copyright: NPR
Source: NPR
