Messages From Migrant Centers

Messages From Migrant Centers The history of Southern Appalachia, the region, has yet to be written. A part of that history would, of necessity, deal with migration into and out of the region — a subject not to be dealt with easily and briefly. And although much has been written, especially about recent migration, it might be well to stop right heres for, the aim here is modest. And yet it might have its own place in human impact and interest. The decision to present a sampler of messages from migrant centers was not a sudden one. For the past few years Appalachian Heritage has been going to "migrants " and others scattered all over these United States and a few foreign countries —subscribers who represent an extremely wide audience range. Many letters have come in, but since the preponderance of them were quite laudatory of the magazine and what it is trying to do, there was the thought that if we used them people, might think we were trying to toot our own horn just too much. In lieu of that why not just print some samplers from the migrant centers — to just have a look at what people out there are thinking about, let them have their say? Some are bitter, some nostalgic, (some form of nostalgia is thematic in many of the letters), and it is interesting that many turn to verse form when trying to express their deepest feelings. Here they are — from Uptown Chicago, Columbus, Cincinnati. FROM THE DEW DROP IN - MIGRANT CENTER, UPTOWN CHICAGO Our contacts with Uptown come primarily through Anndrena Behhner, a young migrant from Pike County, Kentucky, who works in The Dew Drop In — Migrant Center. In a recent letter she wrote of her decision to return home. "I don't know how I will make it," she wrote, "but I will somehow." Later she wrote, "Coming home is not to run from Uptown, for I am a Mountain Migrant but to save my grandmother's homeplace and build, there, onto the experience I have had here, and to continue working towards linking migrants and people down home together. Tm also a bit selfish. I feel the need to watch the moon coming up over the mountains. No doubt, you will know what I'm saying." Robert Thoreson is a sixteen-year-old who has been in Uptown about four years. What is happening at The Dew Drop In has its counterpart in other migrant centers . ( The selections were taken from their news letters ) . THE DEW DROP IN The Dew Drop In — Migrant Center was created in response to the need for a vehicle in the Uptown community whereby in-migrant people can develop leadership, 48 express themselves, and act upon issues that concern them and their environment. Cultural identity, and education relevant to this cultural identity, are two areas we are emphasizing as we develop our programs. Founded by migrants indigenous to Uptown, The Dew Drop In has been sponsoring educational workshops pertaining to Mountain culture, history, art, music, and current social issues. We have held some square dances and crafts workshops in Uptown and in other communities where we can help people understand and better appreciate our culture and values. We have operated for the last year on a small grant from Urban Dynamics/Inner City Funds. Before this time, we patched together monies from other resources. We want to continue developing programs that emphasize our heritage and communicate to others that we are proud of who we are. When Mountain people were first pushed into leaving the mountains in search of jobs, there was no planning on the part of urban areas for us as "economic refugees." Many institutions, agencies, and individuals judged migrants from their urban cultural standards as "problems" to the city. Although pressure to assimilate was great, many newcomers didn't accept what they saw as a cold, impersonal, "success" oriented life. Mountain people tried to say 'there's something wrong here," and to offer solutions to these "city sicknesses," but too much of the busy metropolis was unwilling to listen. Instead, there came only a stronger thrust from urban leaders to get mountain people to conform...