Running Head: Free Spirits: A Legacy of Wildness
Freedom VS Slavery
In Contrast with Bell Hooks’ Critical Essay
Free Spirits: A Legacy of Wildness
ENG 121: English Composition I
Prof. Prairie Markussen
February, 2020
, Planning to move to eastern Kentucky? Its looks are deceiving to outsiders because of its
natural beauty and breathtaking views of the mountains. Appalachia would prefer to live in the
backwoods more than any other place. However, statistics have shown that eastern Kentucky has
some of the highest poverty levels in the country (U.S. News.com, 2020). Outsiders believe the
Appalachia in the backwoods of eastern Kentucky are uneducated and uncivilized which
separates them from the rest of the society. Most Backwoods people believe that they are free,
regardless of them appearing to be uncivilized or not, like the famous author bell hooks. She
expressed she felt free living away from civilization in the backwoods even after leaving (Hooks,
2008). Kentucky has struggled with poverty for decades and Appalachia refuse to conform to the
societal norms like most which has developed stigma that has tainted the image of the Kentucky
Backwoods, however if you are the type of person that does not need those modern conveniences
to be comfortable then eastern Kentucky could be an ideal place to live.
The impact of education in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains has caused it to mimic
a time capsule because it has progressed slowly, causing interminable poverty rates. Mcvey, a
former University of Kentucky President even stated in his novel he wrote in the 40’s that the
delay in the development in education has caused a high poverty rate (Mcvey, 1949). So much
of the backwoods are placed in the isolated Appalachian Mountains as a result people don’t leave
the area in most cases plus access to transportation is minimal forcing residents not to venture
outside of their property lines for employment. However, that does not mean that the people that
live there are uncivilized, like a large majority of outsiders in cities near the backwoods or other
surrounding cities.
Why do Appalachian people prefer to live with poverty in the “Hills and Hollors” away
from civilization, rather than being enslaved by societal norms? Living in the backwoods is all
Freedom VS Slavery
In Contrast with Bell Hooks’ Critical Essay
Free Spirits: A Legacy of Wildness
ENG 121: English Composition I
Prof. Prairie Markussen
February, 2020
, Planning to move to eastern Kentucky? Its looks are deceiving to outsiders because of its
natural beauty and breathtaking views of the mountains. Appalachia would prefer to live in the
backwoods more than any other place. However, statistics have shown that eastern Kentucky has
some of the highest poverty levels in the country (U.S. News.com, 2020). Outsiders believe the
Appalachia in the backwoods of eastern Kentucky are uneducated and uncivilized which
separates them from the rest of the society. Most Backwoods people believe that they are free,
regardless of them appearing to be uncivilized or not, like the famous author bell hooks. She
expressed she felt free living away from civilization in the backwoods even after leaving (Hooks,
2008). Kentucky has struggled with poverty for decades and Appalachia refuse to conform to the
societal norms like most which has developed stigma that has tainted the image of the Kentucky
Backwoods, however if you are the type of person that does not need those modern conveniences
to be comfortable then eastern Kentucky could be an ideal place to live.
The impact of education in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains has caused it to mimic
a time capsule because it has progressed slowly, causing interminable poverty rates. Mcvey, a
former University of Kentucky President even stated in his novel he wrote in the 40’s that the
delay in the development in education has caused a high poverty rate (Mcvey, 1949). So much
of the backwoods are placed in the isolated Appalachian Mountains as a result people don’t leave
the area in most cases plus access to transportation is minimal forcing residents not to venture
outside of their property lines for employment. However, that does not mean that the people that
live there are uncivilized, like a large majority of outsiders in cities near the backwoods or other
surrounding cities.
Why do Appalachian people prefer to live with poverty in the “Hills and Hollors” away
from civilization, rather than being enslaved by societal norms? Living in the backwoods is all
