Growing Up in Kentucky’s Hills

As a child, I spent my early years on a Kentucky hillside, surrounded by the lush natural world that enveloped us. I had no idea that the world outside did not view black folks as belonging in the wilderness. Our home in the hills was harmonious with nature, where black and white families coexisted in a peculiar solidarity. Poverty was never spoken of, and as a child, I was unaware of whether we were poor. We had a rich vernacular culture, full of life and abundance.

Leaving Home and Discovering Appalachia

It wasn’t until I left those hills as a young adult that I began to understand the world beyond. Only after leaving home did I know the area as “Appalachia” and realize that Kentucky was not the untouched land I once imagined. It had been ravaged by greed, exploitative capitalism, and corrupt mining practices that scarred the landscape. Despite this devastation, parts of Kentucky’s natural beauty remained seemingly unscathed. Wendell Berry’s words resonate deeply when he says, “What is being destroyed cannot be made beautiful.”

Reclaiming the Land

Returning to Kentucky as an adult, I bought land in the hills to symbolically reclaim a piece of the African American Appalachian path. I intended to protect the land from capitalist exploitation. I don’t work the land, nor do I believe that those who wish to hunt and kill have a right to it. Instead, I allow the land to be, healing its wounds and my own. I plant trees and “white dawn” roses and care for the land. In my book of essays, *Belonging*, I explore themes of home, agriculture, land, and the intersections of racism.

A Voice for Black Appalachian Women

As a black woman writing about Appalachia, I often find my voice not acknowledged. While I am heard when I discuss race, gender, and class, few listen when I speak about environmental issues and the sacred relationship rural black folks have with the earth. Wendell Berry’s voice on environmentalism is heard, but I remain in his shadow as a Kentucky black female writer. We do not join forces to speak about our shared love for Kentucky or our hopes for a future free from exploitation.

Environmental Issues and Gender

Unlike many Kentucky writers, particularly men, my work on environmental issues always includes the politics of gender. Writers on land and environmental matters in Kentucky rarely address the specific experiences of women or the impact of war, pollution, and economic hardship on women’s lives. These experiences, especially in Appalachia, often remain unspoken.

Gathering Women’s Voices

I invited Gloria Steinem to the hills during the early years of my return to Kentucky. She was the first person to stay in my writing cabin, and together, we gathered women of all backgrounds—white, black, Asian, Latina, and more—to share our stories. Women from different walks of life celebrated our triumphs and discussed our challenges. Steinem, though initially hesitant about my return to Kentucky, was deeply moved by the beauty and harsh realities of the Kentucky landscape. Her visit helped break the silence surrounding Appalachian women’s experiences, revealing the challenges of living with environmental degradation, poverty, and violence.

Emma Watson’s Visit to Kentucky

It was a significant moment when the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson visited Kentucky, Berea College, and the Bell Hooks Institute. Watson, who travels the world advocating for gender equality, recognized the parallels between Appalachia and other regions where women face oppression and disenfranchisement. Her pilgrimage to Kentucky brought attention to the need for gender equality, both locally and globally.

Solidarity and Sisterhood

Emma Watson’s visit to Appalachia was a gift that expanded awareness of the struggles faced by women in disenfranchised areas. Together, Emma and I embody a solidarity and sisterhood that serves as a beacon for those who understand that the fate of women everywhere is interconnected. The path to liberation and collective well-being requires we work across our differences, united in our commitment to justice and equality.