Appalachian History

Aunt Betty Arnett lived 87 years of her life unable to read or write; she lives far back at the headwaters of Licking River in Magoffin County, KY.

FDR tiptoes around the lynching issue

The movement to put anti-lynching legislation in place gained new momentum with the election of FDR in 1932. Roosevelt refused to speak out.

At night, when the moon shines and the wind blows, you can hear a voice say: ‘Tailypo, tailypo, now I’ve got my tailypo.’

Men in room at Mrs. Jones’s boardinghouse. Six men live in this room. Three beds, pay eight to ten dollars a week rent. December 1940.

The first class passengers all sit still; Second class passengers walk up the hill; But the poor third class have fallen behind.