Just Over the Hill: Black Appalachians in Jackson County, Western North Carolina

Long before the term “Affrilachia” became popular, Victoria A. Casey McDonald spent decades gathering the stories of her family and neighbors in North Carolina’s Jackson County. Her book, Just Over the Hill: Black Appalachians in Jackson County, Western North Carolina, presents a collection of narratives that illuminate the lives of African Americans in the region. These stories include her grandmother’s, Amanda Thomas, who was born into bondage. The biographies and histories continue throu...