The Harlan Renaissance

The Harlan Renaissance is a poignant exploration of Black life in eastern Kentucky's coal towns, authored by renowned Appalachian studies scholar William Turner. With a focus on kinship and community during the postwar boom years, Turner paints a vivid picture of vibrant Black neighborhoods, where families engaged with national issues through media and communal spaces. The narrative weaves together sociological insights and oral histories, shedding light on the complex choices faced by families in the context of economic uncertainties and the civil rights movement.