Author Wayne Winkler will discuss his book, “Walking Toward the Sunset,” an examination of the Melungeons of Appalachia, during a presentation at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 25 in Yeager Recital Hall, located in the Center for the Arts on the Elon University campus. The presentation is free and open to the public.
The Melungeons are a mixed-race group found predominantly in southern Appalachia. Winkler, who is of Melungeon decent, will discuss the scholarship and issues associated with the Melungeon community. The origin of the Melungeons is mysterious and the subject of ongoing controversy.
In “Walking Toward the Sunset,” Winkler examines the legal and social restrictions placed on the Melungeons and other mixed-race groups in the early 20th century. He documents the changes in public and private attitudes toward the Melungeons and the numerous debates over their identity.
Winkler is director of public radio station WETS in Johnson City, Tenn. He has produced an award-winning radio documentary on the Melungeons and is president of the Melungeon Heritage Association.
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