On any given Sunday in Appalachia, a request to be baptized can be made. To mountain folk, this was an outward profession of an inward or personal faith in Jesus Christ. The water doesn’t wash away sins but serves as a testament to the world that the person has become…
The section of mountains I grew up in is called East Tennessee, Appalachia. I lived in a small, rugged, rural, mountain town called Sneedville, or Hancock County. This area is particularly known for its Melungeon heritage. I was born and raised here but never remember hearing the word “Melungeon” until…
Appalachian folks hold tightly to many traditions that were passed down through their family lines or within a community as a whole. For example, folk medicines were said to be the go-to thing to use in case of an ailment. Many years ago, getting a doctor to a patient was…
