Voices from Appalachia

http://coalblackvoices.com/poets/kelly/index.html

Raised by Women by Kelly Norman Ellis is my favorite Affrilachian poem avaliable on Coal Black Voices. It shows an interesting perspective of a woman raised by the women in her African American family. The women described by Ellis in the poem are the strong, stereotypical African American women often depicted in movies and other media. One example is:

Some big legged
High yellow, mocha brown
Hip shaking
Miniskirt wearing
Hip huggers hugging
Daring debutantes
Groovin
"I know I look good"
Type of Women.

It is these type of women who shaped Ellis. Her poem seems to accurately describe what a Southern livestyle is like. I really recommend this poem as well as others on the website. They're really interesting to read.

- Falyn