Affrilachia

Walker, F. X. (2000). Affrilachia. Lexington: Old Cove Press.

What is poetry? The concentrated expression of ideas and feelings through precise and imaginative words carefully selected for their sonorous and rhythmical effects.

This book of poetry is written by Frank X Walker, who is a native to Danville, Kentucky. He has contributed to journals and anthologies but this is his first book; ten years of life, living, and work.   The title of the book is used by Walker to show that the subjects are African-Americans living in rural Appalachia.

Walker writes a personal, poetic narrative (tells a story) about what it means to be a young, black male in America. With deep feeling, his poetry visits Hazard, Kentucky, Harlan County, Kentucky (my birthplace), West Virginia, and all places Appalachia. The poems ‘take you there.’ The element of poetry Walker uses is meaning; there is a mood conveyed through his words.  His poems leave you feeling sad, angry, happy, and with determination and hope.

My text-to self- connection is that my heritage is Appalachian. Also, aptly timed, the mention of the UK Wildcats in Death by Basketball instilled a sense of pride in me. Finally, on a very personal level, the Hummingbird poem has great significance to someone in my family.

Big questions: How does the author show meaning in his poetry? How is this different from other poetry? If you could write a poem about a region, or people, who would you choose?

This book could be used in a compare and contrast activity during a poetry unit or as a resource for Black History Month.