“They Wanted to Get Me Out of That Area, and They Did”: Recalling Racial Histories in the Central Appalachian Region

Abstract The Central Appalachian region has long been characterized by widespread economic deprivation. While some economic improvement has been noted in recent years, the region continues to face significant challenges related to poverty exacerbated by historical processes of extraction, exploitation, and deindustrialization. Poverty in Central Appalachia is not experienced equally, as intersecting factors of class and race differentially impact the people residing in the region. African American communities have faced racial disadvantages during periods of industrial growth and decline. This study investigates how systemic racism and classism shape experiences of poverty among older adults in the region. Drawing on qualitative research with deprived older adults in Central Appalachia, the article reveals how race and class power relations intertwine in older adults’ past and present lives. The conclusion advocates for more recognition of race as a fundamental social structure shaping life histories and present-day experiences of poorer White and African American people.