Appalachia has been a place of movement and migration-for individuals, families, and entire communities-for centuries.

Beginning Againbrings together twelve narratives of refugees, migrants, and generations-long residents that explore complex journeys of resettlement. In their stories, Appalachia-despite how it's popularly portrayed-is not simply a region of poverty and strife populated only by white people. It is a diverse place where belonging and connection are created despite displacement, resource extraction, and inequality.

, born and raised in Big Stone Gap, as he describes the "slow burn" of everyday racism and his efforts to organize Black Appalachian youth to stay in their communities. Taken together, their stories and more collected here present a nuanced look at life in contemporary Appalachia.