{"product_id":"theyll-cut-off-your-project-a-mingo-county-chronicle-west-virginia","title":"They'll Cut Off Your Project: A Mingo County Chronicle - West Virginia","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of They'll Cut Off Your Project: A Mingo County Chronicle, the reviewer finds a vivid, locally rooted account for readers who care about Appalachian history and community activism. Huey Perry and Jeff Biggers deliver a narrative that reads like both memoir and social study, tracing the Mingo County Economic Opportunity Commission during the 1960s war on poverty and the violent political context that met it. The book is best appreciated for its close-up portrait of grassroots organizing and the political backlash in southern West Virginia, making it a strong pick for readers seeking a human-centered history of reform and resistance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLocal perspective:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book centers on Huey Perry's leadership of the Mingo County Economic Opportunity Commission, providing a first-hand view of community organizing in rural West Virginia.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical context:\u003c\/strong\u003e It situates the program within the Johnson Administration's war on poverty, helping readers understand federal policy impacts on small communities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePolitical drama:\u003c\/strong\u003e The narrative explains how shifts toward self-sufficiency threatened local power structures and generated opposition, giving the story dramatic tension.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegional focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Readers get detailed portraits of Mingo County life, including references to Bloody Mingo County, violent labor movements, and the Hatfield-McCoy cultural backdrop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommunity outcomes:\u003c\/strong\u003e The account shows how vulnerable and low-income residents collaborated to improve conditions, illustrating practical models of grassroots change.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis chronicle will appeal to readers of \u003cstrong\u003estate and local history\u003c\/strong\u003e, students of Appalachia, and anyone interested in civil rights-era social programs applied at the county level. It is especially useful for community organizers, regional historians, and readers who appreciate narrative non fiction rooted in place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is less suited to those seeking a broad national overview of the war on poverty or a technical policy manual; readers wanting academic, heavily footnoted scholarship may prefer more densely referenced works. This is a narrative-driven, local case study rather than an exhaustive policy textbook.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrong, personal perspective from a local history teacher turned program director that brings the Mingo County story to life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear connection between federal policy and local consequences, useful for readers studying how national programs play out on the ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVivid depiction of regional tensions and resistance, providing dramatic and cultural context to the story.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe focus on one county means the narrative is narrow in scope and may not satisfy readers seeking nationwide analysis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThey'll Cut Off Your Project: A Mingo County Chronicle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRegion\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWest Virginia, Appalachia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLocal history, community organizing, war on poverty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHuey Perry, Jeff Biggers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSetting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMingo County, 1960s\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis chronicle is a valuable, human-centered account for readers who want an intimate look at how the war on poverty played out in southern West Virginia. Its detailed local perspective and dramatic political conflict make it good value for anyone interested in Appalachian history, community activism, or the social dynamics of reform on a county level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book focused on policy or personal story?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book blends personal narrative with policy context, emphasizing Huey Perry's local leadership and community responses rather than technical policy analysis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it cover the broader history of Appalachia?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt concentrates on Mingo County and its specific conflicts, using regional context like the Hatfield-McCoy backdrop to illuminate local events rather than offering an extensive Appalachian overview.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho wrote the chronicle?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHuey Perry, with Jeff Biggers, authored the account, combining Perry's local experience with broader narrative shaping.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Huey Perry, Jeff Biggers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48631661363419,"sku":"1933202807","price":64.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/81c9BUY7JJL._SL1500.jpg?v=1778467077","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/theyll-cut-off-your-project-a-mingo-county-chronicle-west-virginia","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}