Affrilachia is a term that spotlights the historic and current cultural contributions of African American artists, writers, and musicians in the Appalachian region of the United States. ^[1] The term "Affrilachia" is attributed to Kentucky-based writer Frank X Walker, who began using it in the 1990s as a way to negate the stereotype of Appalachian culture, ^{[1] [2]} which portrays Appalachians as predominantly white and living in small mountain communities. Walker's coined word "Affrilachia" gave notice to a group of Affrilachian writers called the Affrilachian Poets. They wrote about social injustices happening in the region and supported diversity in Appalachian literature. ^[3]His coined term is political, and the use of it challenges hegemony and the imposition of false concepts onto actual experiences. ^[4] Frank X Walker challenges the hegemonic idea that Appalachia is composed only of whites. His creation of the term and concept “Affrilachia” helps to break down centuries-old stereotypes which help to support an unjust power structure. ^{[5] [6]} Affrilachia is also the title of Walker's 2000 book of poetry, published by Old Cove Press. ^[7]

In 2011 Marie T. Cochran created the Affrilachian Artist Project with the goal of building a sustainable collaborative network among the region’s artists and community organizers. ^[2] Today the project has over 2,000 members and has organized several Appalachian-themed art exhibitions.

Appalachian music as we know it would simply not be possible without the contributions of African Americans. ^[8] African-American blues musicians played a significant role in developing the instrumental aspects of Appalachian music, most notably with the introduction of the five-stringed banjo. The banjo occupied a central place in African-American traditional music.

More than thirty prominent art community members, which includes writers, musicians, and artists identify as Affrilachian, including: Frank X Walker, Nikky Finney, Kelly Norman, Ellis, Mitchell L. H. Douglas, Crystal Wilkinson, Bianca Spriggs, Parneshia Jones, Vievee Francis, Parneshia Jones, Marie Cochran, and Ellen Hagan. As of March 2021, 3,028 people currently follow the Affrilachian Artist Project's Facebook page.

The Affrilachian Artist Project's Facebook page was created by Marie Cochran, It keeps you updated on all of the events being help and keeps you up to date. It also has videos to this Appalachian region taken by the creator of the page. Marie Cochran has also made a traveling version of the Affrilachian Artist Project called the Affrilachian Traveling Studio Exhibit. ^[9]

Frank X Walker has made the books Issac Murphy: I Dedicate This Ride, which is a poem about Issac Murphy. He made the book Masked Man, Black pandemic and protest poems which he uses to insert a conscience into the tumultuous cacophony that is social media. ^[10]He also made Black Box Poems in the year 2006, and Affrilachia Poems in the year 2000.

Crystal Wilkinson is the author of the books The Birds of Opulence (2016), Water Street (2011), Blackberries, Blackberries (2000), and Perfect Black that is expected to be published in August of 2021. ^[11]

In 2018, Affrilachia celebrated its 25 years since the term was created with the book, Black Bone: 25 Years of the Affrilachian Poets edited by Bianca Lynn Spriggs and Jeremy Paden, published by The University Press of Kentucky. ^[12] This book had contributions from Frank X Walker himself along with other prominent members of the Affrilachian community. ^[13]

Very little people are aware of the impact Black Appalachians, or Affrilachians, have on changing this regions style of music. No music has been more influential in the Appalachian region than the music that is made surrounding the banjo. The banjo is considered and Appalachian icon when it comes to music. West African enslaved musicians had brought over many musical instruments including the banjo to the New World ^[14]

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