Christmas In Appalachia 1965

TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY: (CLICK "SHOW MORE" below FOR A NOTE FROM ME) Examines the meager holiday season for poor families in the mountains of Kentucky. Reporter, Charles Kuralt, talks with the people about the disappointments their children will have on Christmas Day. The children sing carols and eat a hot meal, the only joy they will have at Christmas. A general store owner explains how automation has taken away jobs for men in coal mines. Shows people in line to receive surplus, government commodities. Emphasizes that poverty prevails year round, and shows the misery and discouragement of adults, the scant prospects of education for children, and the shacks that serve as homes.

NOTE--I wanted to post a reply I made to a recent comment from someone who was angered about the video depicting people in a bad light. I fully understand their comment, and am not upset about it, at all. Hence, my reply to them below:

​ Please don't be angry with me for my reply, I just want to explain (and I have nothing to do with the production of this original documentary in any way, then or today). Let's be honest, this documentary was originally created to gain ratings for a television station. Same as today. Some things don't change. Yet, somewhere in the background there was someone working on that crew who wanted some honesty and understanding to come out in it. Otherwise, I would not host it, nor condone it. I understand your comment. I was born/raised in Appalachia. I moved to live right on the New York border for one year. I moved back to Appalachia 20 years ago by choice, not by necessity. Different strokes, yes?

While this documentary paints a picture of a bleak outlook, it is a "portion" of the area. Not many today would view this as a slight on my/your/our way of life/beliefs. It is simply a time capsule containing a life that was obviously, and by way of document, happening in the area. Not all people lived this way back then. Most people realize this and it shouldn't be seen as a slight on anyone's way of life. The despair seen here is underlined by a hope that people today need to see. Did the children show signs of giving up? No. Did the adults waver in their faith in the face of such adversity? No. Be it religious belief or pure human will, they moved forward and proved what was the most important thing in the existence in any human life: Family/friends. Today, you might even find families with children , or even parents, who have less than a high school education. Be they from rural mountains/plains or the ghettos of a big city. Some by choice, some by circumstance. But, to which I think you will agree, the ferocity of their love for their family/friends will be something that fills the void of such education, and do them far more good in the long run.

In Appalachia, there are many culturally significant places. Be that your favorite diner on main street that some lucky traveler gets to visit and say "Oh my God that food was awesome!" or a more prominent place like The Greenbrier for those with a luckier lot in life. Google quote for The Greenbrier: "The Greenbrier is an award-winning resort located in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. ... The Greenbrier has been awarded the AAA Five Diamond status since inception of the award and is one of only three properties to have earned this distinction for 33 consecutive years." Different strokes. No pun intended.

Lastly, I will explain for the first time why I host this on YouTube. Obviously, as a whole, the documentary paints a picture of a way of life that shows/proves what is most important to a human being. More specifically, the part at 4:24 when the mother offers the exact same respect to her daughter and the "Famous TV guy" in town to make a movie. Notice the way she treats her daughter with the respect of being every bit as important to her time and attention as the "TV guy" and in the same way, treats the "TV guy" with the respect of a guest in her home, no more, no less. If people today would learn the true meaning of what just happened in that social situation, I believe the world would be a much better place. When it comes to respect, some things don't change. This is the reason I host this video. Please let anyone in your family who was angered by it read this. Anger or slighting a way of life was the last of my intent when hosting it.

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