“Our Side of the Mountain”
We are doctors, lawyers, teachers, truck drivers, entrepreneurs, fire fighters, caregivers, and protectors, determined, brave and free spirited. Yes, Melungeons are all that and more. We come in all shapes and sizes; some are very dark skinned, some lighter. Some of us boast the prominent, high cheek bones of our Native American influence with underlying traits of African, Turkish and Portuguese descent, while others exhibit more of our white European component. We live all across this country. Celebrating our heritage means sharing with the world every side of who we are.
This is the reason my mother, Allene Watts Miller, and I decided to undertake the project of writing a novel based on memories of her childhood in Breathitt County Kentucky that point to definitive Melungeon roots. It will outline a resourceful, beautiful, simple way of living, though misunderstood and even feared by mainstream civilization. During my own growing-up years, I never understood why she was so adamant to build up my
self-esteem and that of my siblings.
“You’re just as smart, and just as good as anybody,” she would tell us at seemingly random times.
“Yes, Mom,” I guess I can stand in the lunch line with other kids pretty well. And I suppose it’s like all my friends to listen to loud music. And, sure, my heart can break with the best of them at not being invited to the dance.
Of course, I know now that her angst over making sure her kids felt pride and dignity goes back to the time her family moved away from their safe haven for work and opportunity. Instead they were met with ridicule and antipathy. She vowed her children would never feel shame the way she did from being told everything she knew, how she spoke and the words she used were plain backwoods, hillbilly ways, and must be corrected.
Still, she wanted us to know and understand those ways with all their very real value. Mom told us about Grandma Annie; how she was a midwife and cured people by her knowledge of plants and roots and how to use them. We were intrigued by Grandpa Poppy with his baby chicken “doodles” and skillful gardening to sustain the family. Oh how we giggled listening to the entertaining tale of the mountainside church congregation singing down the preacher.
We even heard tell about a great, great aunt, Pocahontas. Who knew we would one day discover she was named for our actual relative? Yes, our band of Watts to Fugate to Bowling to Rolfe traces directly to the famed Indian.
So now, she and I recounted 12-months of life experienced on the Eastern Kentucky side of the Appalachians. It is a journey back to reminisce about day-to-day activities in the 1940s that resemble the 1800s. We wonder why time stood still, the unexplained need to stay hidden, and why no one felt any importance to understand how we came to be on our side of the mountain.
We invite you to join us on this journey. You may friend me at www.facebook.com/darlene.nixon.161. Progress reports will be posted there. We anticipate an October release of the book.
We also thank our entire family for supporting this endeavor; especially Mom’s sister, Mollie, for her tireless and thorough research into our ancestry; to my sisters and brother for encouragement, and to Dad, Sherrill Miller, for providing us with his own brand of quiet, strength. To my husband, Hubert, I give much love and thanks for boundless support, and my daughters, Jacqueline Pellman and Brooke Dutton for always believing.
To our publisher, Steve Spillman at True Potential Publishing, thank you for the foresight to have us reach out to Heather Andolina. To Heather and Andrew of Underbyte Films, we thank you for including thoughts from our side of the mountain in your wonderful and greatly anticipated documentary. A thanks as well goes to the Melungeon Heritage Association for furthering the discovery and celebration of our people.
Mostly, we give thanks to our heavenly father from whom all blessings flow. Therefore, we know we are “wonderfully and fearfully made.”
We are doctors, lawyers, teachers, truck drivers, entrepreneurs, fire fighters, caregivers, and protectors, determined, brave and free spirited. Yes, Melungeons are all that and more. We come in all shapes and sizes; some are very dark skinned, some lighter. Some of us boast the prominent, high cheek bones of our Native American influence with underlying traits of African, Turkish and Portuguese descent, while others exhibit more of our white European component. We live all across this country. Celebrating our heritage means sharing with the world every side of who we are.
This is the reason my mother, Allene Watts Miller, and I decided to undertake the project of writing a novel based on memories of her childhood in Breathitt County Kentucky that point to definitive Melungeon roots. It will outline a resourceful, beautiful, simple way of living, though misunderstood and even feared by mainstream civilization. During my own growing-up years, I never understood why she was so adamant to build up my
self-esteem and that of my siblings.
“You’re just as smart, and just as good as anybody,” she would tell us at seemingly random times.
“Yes, Mom,” I guess I can stand in the lunch line with other kids pretty well. And I suppose it’s like all my friends to listen to loud music. And, sure, my heart can break with the best of them at not being invited to the dance.
Of course, I know now that her angst over making sure her kids felt pride and dignity goes back to the time her family moved away from their safe haven for work and opportunity. Instead they were met with ridicule and antipathy. She vowed her children would never feel shame the way she did from being told everything she knew, how she spoke and the words she used were plain backwoods, hillbilly ways, and must be corrected.
Still, she wanted us to know and understand those ways with all their very real value. Mom told us about Grandma Annie; how she was a midwife and cured people by her knowledge of plants and roots and how to use them. We were intrigued by Grandpa Poppy with his baby chicken “doodles” and skillful gardening to sustain the family. Oh how we giggled listening to the entertaining tale of the mountainside church congregation singing down the preacher.
We even heard tell about a great, great aunt, Pocahontas. Who knew we would one day discover she was named for our actual relative? Yes, our band of Watts to Fugate to Bowling to Rolfe traces directly to the famed Indian.
So now, she and I recounted 12-months of life experienced on the Eastern Kentucky side of the Appalachians. It is a journey back to reminisce about day-to-day activities in the 1940s that resemble the 1800s. We wonder why time stood still, the unexplained need to stay hidden, and why no one felt any importance to understand how we came to be on our side of the mountain.
We invite you to join us on this journey. You may friend me at www.facebook.com/darlene.nixon.161. Progress reports will be posted there. We anticipate an October release of the book.
We also thank our entire family for supporting this endeavor; especially Mom’s sister, Mollie, for her tireless and thorough research into our ancestry; to my sisters and brother for encouragement, and to Dad, Sherrill Miller, for providing us with his own brand of quiet, strength. To my husband, Hubert, I give much love and thanks for boundless support, and my daughters, Jacqueline Pellman and Brooke Dutton for always believing.
To our publisher, Steve Spillman at True Potential Publishing, thank you for the foresight to have us reach out to Heather Andolina. To Heather and Andrew of Underbyte Films, we thank you for including thoughts from our side of the mountain in your wonderful and greatly anticipated documentary. A thanks as well goes to the Melungeon Heritage Association for furthering the discovery and celebration of our people.
Mostly, we give thanks to our heavenly father from whom all blessings flow. Therefore, we know we are “wonderfully and fearfully made.”
Click to watch the slideshow and reading of Thanksgiving excerpts. Photos include favorite family pictures, typical foods enjoyed and representations of Pocahontas and the First Thanksgiving. (We do not own the rights to the music.)
Meet Mr. Jay Holbrook. He enjoys being part of the McDonald's breakfast club in Scottsburg, IN where they have fascinating discussions. He also enjoyed reading, "Our Side of the Mountain."
"I just finished reading the last chapter. I couldn't wait to tell my sister about the Leonard! She dearly loved hearing about it, because it reminded her of when we had a Leonard refrigerator growing up." As a side note, the Leonard was a less expensive brand of the popular Frigidaire in the 1940s and 50s. You can read about the day Allafair's family brought home a Leonard, and much more about the secluded lives of the Eastern Kentucky Melungeons. "Our Side of the Mountain" is available through the Amazon link. Or, you can send me a private message with your email and I will send your invoice - and a signed copy! Grace and Blessings, Darlene Nixon |
https://www.amazon.com/Our-Side-Mountain-Pocahontas-Revolution-ebook/dp/B09R6YF574/ref=sr_1_5?crid=6V6VMSIZZEER&keywords=our+side+of+the+mountain&qid=1653164578&sprefix=our+side%2Caps%2C217&sr=8-5
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