William H. Turner, the National Endowment for the Humanities Chair in Appalachian studies at Berea College, is the next guest on Connections with Renee Shaw, now entering its fourth season. The program airs weekly Fridays, beginning Sept. 5 at 4/3 p.m. CT on KET2 and Sundays, beginning Sept. 7 at 1:30/12:30 p.m. CT on KET1.
A Harlan County native, Turner discusses his childhood in Lynch, Ky. and his family’s roots in Appalachia. Contrary to popular belief, he says, there was actually a very diverse population in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky after World War II and a sense of racial and ethnic equality encouraged by the United Mine Workers.
Turner goes on to dispel many false impressions about the region, saying that Appalachians must begin shaping their own image in order to fight off negative stereotypes. According to Turner, one organization that is already doing just that is Appalshop, which produces original Appalachian films, theater, music, books and many other arts projects.
The Berea professor also discusses coal mining and mountain-top removal, tourism in Eastern Kentucky and the rich history of racial harmony at Berea College. He also mentions his own current projects, including an update of his 1985 book, Blacks in Appalachia, and his work as co-editor of a new issue of the quarterly Appalachian Heritage.
Connections with Renee Shaw is a KET production, produced by Shaw and Carolyn Gwinn. More information about Connections, including streaming video, is available at www.ket.org/connections.
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