It ’s pronounced , " Appa - door latch - uh . "

Hi, I’m Carley, and I’m a proud Appalachian. Appalachia is a very specific and often misunderstood region of the South. And yes, while the Appalachian Mountains range from Newfoundland, Canada, to central Alabama, I’m talking about the five states that mostly encompass Appalachian culture—Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky.

I, and many other Appalachians, feel our home gets a bad rap from the press, the entertainment industry, and others who view us only as hillbillies or rednecks. So, with all of the media surrounding JD Vance and the negativeportrayalof “Appalachia” and its people in his memoir,Hillbilly Elegy, as well as the Netflix film adaption, I thought now would be the perfect time for arealAppalachian to debunk some common misconceptions about Appalachia:

1.“Bless your heart” is not a derogatory expression.

2.Our accent does not mean that we are unintelligent.

3.While we’re on the topic of accents, there’s not simply one “Appalachian” accent.

4.It’s pronounced — “Appa-latch-uh”

5.Wereallydon’t enjoy repeating words for other people.

6.We’re not clannish.

7.Most movie and TV portrayals of Appalachia are highly inaccurate.

8.It’s not all biscuits and gravy…

9.We are not the white trash we are portrayed to be; there are many successful Appalachians, but the world teaches us to hide parts of ourselves to be respected.

The author smiling in a patterned dress standing on a wooden deck with mountains and lush green trees in the background

Glenn Close and Amy Adams in a scene from the film "Hillbilly Elegy," wearing casual clothing, stand facing each other with intense expressions in a grassy outdoor setting

Hands holding up red paper hearts, symbolizing love and positivity

A person with curly hair in a cozy, chunky sweater is seated at a table with a laptop, notebooks, and stationery, gazing thoughtfully out of frame

Several people are seated in a circle in a casual meeting room, engaged in discussion. One person is speaking while others listen attentively

Layers of rolling hills in the Appalachian Mountains stretching into the distance under a fading sunset sky

Five people smiling and pointing at a man in a suit who stands apart from them. The group is dressed in business attire

A family enjoys a gathering on the porch of a house. Some members are standing, others are seated around a table, sharing a meal and conversation

A boy plays banjo during the "Dueling Banjos" scene from the film, "Deliverance"

Plate with four biscuits covered in white sausage gravy on a checkered tablecloth. A fork, knife, and napkin are to the right of the plate

Many graduates in caps and gowns standing outdoors during a graduation ceremony. The focus is mainly on the caps, featuring tassels