Other Side Of Democracy. Welcome to Kentucky
Let's look at the other side of the largest "democratic country in the world," which is the absolute opposite of the stereotypes and prosperity. Renowned photographer Shelby Lee Adams, shows us the most dangerous and poorest districts of Kentucky.
These pictures are sad to look at.... All photos are by Shelby Lee Adams.
Millions?
ReplyDeleteTry BILLIONS!
And at the same time, Obama's waging war on the only stable employer/industry in the region.
ReplyDeleteHaveing come from eastern Kentucky I throw the BULLSHIT flag. Most of you can come here and drive ALL DAY and not find this. I am from one of the smallest and poorest counties in the Commonwelth; and you wont find 40 homes like this in the place. This is just more in a long sad history of phony "drunkin sister rapein' hillbilly" crap the yanky do-gooders and catholic appalachin project, have used as money grubbers for there "charitys" for the last hundred years. We DO NOT LIVE LIKE THIS. My family has lived here for more than 200 years and this sir IS NOT Kentucky---- Ray
ReplyDeleteI live in south west Indiana in rural county and I can find less than a dozen situations like this. But not because help isn't available. But I agree with the money staying here and not going to help other countries that are gonna kick us in the teeth anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhatever, they may be too proud to accept charity. Remember, how we all used to be? I would be more than happy to visit with them.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Ray - you need to pick up your bullshit flag and go to the other side of the tracks. I have seen situations like this in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carlina's. I can find situations like this within 10 minutes of where I grew up in south Georgia. I have traveled all through Appalachia and have seen this many times.
ReplyDeleteToo many fat people in the pics for me to think there isn't help around.
Deletesome, not all, of that is poor health/genetics not over eating. that said, some folks just can't be helped, and maybe we shouldn't.
DeleteTony T I'm from Candy Branch Ky; Way up a holler, In eastern Ky, untill 1970 we were listed as one of the poorest places in America,and the only home i saw like that was ONE bootleggers shack. I grew up on a 120Acr. farm run with mules till the 1980s. We Didn't live like that.We had clean clothes, food, clean beds, and shoes. We did and still do take care of our elders ,our children and our homes. You will find drunks druggies and Whores ,just like everywhere else. But we take care of our kin.And Tony where I'm from you had a 30 mile one lane road to GET to the tracks(The state road was dirt till 1973 They paved the federal highway in 1968-69) Ray
DeleteAs a Kentucky Resident myself, I'll second Ray's post. While you may find scenes like this in some areas, it is not widespread.
DeleteGiven the lack of context, the black and white photography, and the obvious political intent, I'd consider the narrative that the photographer provides to be at least a little bit suspect. These people obviously aren't starving. If they're really poor, then the question that needs to be asked is "why?". Have they made poor life choices? Are they all examples of the far-left-end of the IQ curve (ie are they all just stupid)? What percentage of the population do they represent?
ReplyDeleteAbsent more information, the pictures don't tell us enough to make any judgement beyond the aesthetic. For all I know, they're all middle-class people picking up a few extra bucks by posing as downtrodden hicks for a photographer with an agenda. Even if they're authentic Appalachians, we have no way of knowing how common they are, nor how representative. The photographer in the linked essay (which I admit I only skimmed) apparently sought these folks out, implying that they're not ubiquitous.
I have gone through some of my mothers old photo albums and have seen some similar pictures of myself and my siblings. We were poor when I was young, not always, but there was a time when we lived a pretty spartan life. We didn't even realize it at the time.
ReplyDeleteMmmm looks like we weren't all created equally after all.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit worried about the cat though.
DeleteThis pic from the site shows some of the priorities that people have.
ReplyDeletehttp://walkyourcamera.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/FreddiesPlace04.jpg