America is one of the most aggressive countries in the world when combating prejudice. We have laws governing many aspects of life to ensure all are treated fairly. There are established discrimination laws regarding race, religion, ethnic background, and familial status just to name a few. Yet, there is one form of inequity that is thriving in our society. One which plays upon yet another factor its victims are powerless to change: regional discrimination. This bias is wide-spread and if left alone, will only continue to grow as it evolves.

One of the most common forms across the nation is in the general job market. Employees are ignored by potential employers based upon where they are from. Regardless of skill, knowledge, or ability, people are overlooked because they are "local." One prime example is the current practice of corporations hiring out-of-state individuals to fill the more distinguished white collar positions. Many of our largest corporations hire their executives from everywhere outside of home. Perhaps this choice is to make the workplace seem more exotic. This practice falls back on all living in the region.

This sad habit bleeds over into the arts perhaps more than any cultural area. To encapsulate all instances of this unfairness would require a much longer work and would require that all aspects incorporated. The primary focus of this article is on Appalachian and rural writers.

Once an author conquers the seemingly impossible obstacle of getting published, the struggles start again. "Local" writers and authors are faced with an unfair challenge. The writer must they impress publishers and agents in far-off cities with little, if any, support from local media who could greatly assist.

It is no secret that the peoples of the Appalachian Mountains are often nationally stereotyped. We are portrayed as simple minded, mentally sluggish, always in poverty, and thoroughly uneducated. With the way petty politics play into local life, we should expect this misconception to remain. We will never out-industrialize the nation's major cities. Our populations will never equal that of New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. The field of Art is one of the only advantages we currently have to fight against the circulating misinformation.

As not to completely single out the local media, our local publishers are also in this practice. It is common to see self-proclaimed "Appalachian," publishers accepting authors from all states aside from those that are truly Appalachian. They often use a simple disclaimer similar to, "We publish Appalachian authors and those who write about Appalachian life." Many of our authors must look for publication elsewhere due to these ridiculous practices. Readers believe they are helping the local art scene when, in reality, the proceeds are going to authors across the nation.

Major festivals allegedly celebrating "Appalachian arts," frequently overlook actual authors of the region and bring in talent from such places as Chicago and Hawaii. The organizers of one such festival excused their choices by stating most festival attendees "didn't know local authors." After much asking amid local readers, the featured authors were found to be equally unknown. In a festival to celebrate our own creative achievements, the bigotry exemplified towards local authors should not be tolerated. Regions, towns, and cities achieve great recognition when an artist is discovered. Be it in painting, writing, or any other medium, it's a win-win situation for all involved. We may never know this joy with the current intolerance.

Local newspapers are as much to blame as our festival organizers. It's common to see large banners across the top of the page announcing new releases from authors in America's "mega-cities." They are usually syndicated pieces from the Associated Press or other news organization. Open one of these newspapers and it's easy to find newly released books and reviews. Occasionally there will be a brand-name author, however most aren't.

Now, find local authors. Take your time.

You'll most likely see a paragraph or two hidden somewhere around the middle or the bottom of the page. Often times it will be "A-Copy" material. This lazy journalism is where the individual reporting copies the very press release that was submitted to them without offering credit to the person authoring the release. They may occasionally rearrange sentences or paragraphs depending upon their deadlines. One of the easiest to ways to spot A-copy material is to look for the author. If no author or writer is listed on the article, it was most likely lifted from a press release. You can also see that it is merely "filler" news, often used to cover any spaces that would otherwise be empty.

This seemingly accepted form of discrimination often leaves the victim in the shadow. If an author protests, they are labeled as, "jealous," or "bitter." They then run the risk of losing any further marketing in the future with that paper. If no protest is made they fade into obscurity. It's a Catch-22. Perhaps we should be asking ourselves why writers might feel so negatively.

Local businesses are appreciated and awarded for years of faithful service. Local restaurants are commonly celebrated after a few years of operation. Our retailers are applauded and admired with they become established. Local authors are ignored. They work unpaid and unappreciated for years, they struggle just as much to balance a family, and they persist through rejection after rejection from publishers, editors, and agents. They must deal with local people who belittle their aspirations and scoff at their goals. At the end of this long battle comes even more rejection. Those published with the major houses in New York aren't treated any differently than those with a smaller or independent publisher.

You can call it a conspiracy to ensure no small or independent publishers will ever achieve the same recognition as the "mega" publishing houses. You can say it's the "official staff" of newspapers wanting to place area creative authors lower than their own writers. It's irrelevant to the truth. We Appalachian residents are an artistic group of people and we do have ability, skill, and knowledge.

If we are to shed the stereotypes cast upon our region from the nation, the arts should be the first place to start. If we remain oblivious to our own art and culture, we might as well intend on remaining where we are. As a whole we're dependent upon large cities to share their culture and, due to the ignorance of those in the position to change it, we'll remain oblivious to our own. If we don't acknowledge and celebrate our region's artistic skills and abilities today, they will remain ignored and inevitably forgotten by all in the future,

©2005, Laura Wright. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be used without consent.