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Frank X. Walker from Danville, Kentucky is the former Poet Laureate of Kentucky and the first African American to hold the title. His groundbreaking first collection of poems published in 2000, Affrilachia, helped to “challenge the notion of a homogeneous all-white literary landscape in Appalachia.” Walker was a co-founder of the Affrilachian poets group and coined the term “Affrilachia” which is now used to describe a multitude of mountain-centric creations, philosophies, and activities. Walker is a professor at the University of Kentucky and has many publications. Recently, Walker spoke at a convocation given at Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. Mountain Talk Monday host, Kelli Haywood, was there for the address and reception where she talked with Walker about what it means to be Appalachian, what our future here holds, and more.