Dr. Rachel Jennings is an East Tennessee native and current Texas resident who claims a bi-regional identity. A scholar in both Appalachian and Chicano Studies, Dr. Jennings interweaves her interests to show the collective cultural memory of mutual antagonism and conflict between Appalachia and Texas. Prior to being the Rockefeller Scholar-in-Residence at CSEGA, Dr. Jennings earned her PhD. in English from the University of Texas, Austin. Dr. Jennings continues to publish articles, poetry, and book reviews in the fields of Appalachian and Chicano/a Studies. Dr. Jennings's book of poetry, Eulogy for Davy Crockett and Other Poems is forthcoming from La Nana Press.
To contact Dr. Jennings with comments on their research or to obtain copyright permission, please email her at:
rjenningswv@hotmail.com
This research project explores the historical process by which white Appalachians and Mexican Americans have developed a collective cultural memory of mutual antagonism and conflict. Rather than being passive objects of racist and classist discourses within popular culture, both white Appalachians and Mexican Americans have acted in resistance to or in concert with "mainstream" representations of their cultural Other. Specifically, this project explores how the symbolic gendering of the Other (as Mexican "whores" or "emasculated" hillbillies for example) signifies cultural conflict and hostility.
The physical absence of Mexicanos in Appalachia in the past has not prevented Mexicanos and Appalachians from developing myths and stereotypes about the Other. Due to the dramatic demographic shifts in Appalachia caused by an influx of Latinos/as, this legacy of distrust and desire may result either in systemic racial conflict or in opportunities for solidarity.
Drawing extensively upon oral interviews with informants of diverse ages, classes, and occupations her research examines several primary questions: What stereotypes Appalachians have of Mexicans? How did these stereotypes evolve? How do Latinos/as perceive Appalachians? What has anti-Catholicism contributed to anti-Latino/a racism? How is the Other symbolically gendered? Can symbolic gendering of the cultural Other be empowering for women? What forms of solidarity between Anglo and Latino/a Appalachians are possible or have already emerged.
Farmworkers, Coalminers and Davy Crockett: Chicanos/as and Appalachians in Popular Culture
View the document in PDF format.
Dr. Jennings will present her research in the Drinko Library Auditorium on
Friday, March 7th from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Drinko Library Auditorium.
This presentation will be broadcast live over the internet.
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REAL-MEDIA Format
Dr. Jennings will be available for an online chat on Friday, March 7th from 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
This chat session is not available
A discussion list has been provided to accomodate discussion about Dr. Jennings' presentation and research.
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