New Books in Sociology

Chloe Ahmann, "Futures After Progress: Hope and Doubt in Late Industrial Baltimore" (U Chicago Press, 2024)

May 4, 2025
Chloe Ahmann, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Cornell University, dives into the complex history of pollution in South Baltimore. She discusses the enduring effects of industrial decay and local activism aimed at creating a sustainable future. The conversation highlights generational divides in aspirations, revealing how nostalgia shapes community narratives. Ahmann also explores the intertwining themes of hope and despair among residents, emphasizing youth-led movements that seek to combat environmental injustices and envision a brighter tomorrow.
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ANECDOTE

Author's Personal Connection to Curtis Bay

  • Chloe Ahmann started working in Curtis Bay by teaching first graders near a large coal terminal, directly witnessing pollution's impact.
  • Her decade-long research deeply connects with community struggles against industrial pollution and uncertain futures.
INSIGHT

Challenges of Slow Violence Activism

  • Slow violence from pollution is harder to organize against due to its invisible, gradual harm.
  • Yet activism can create events to reveal these harms and resist becoming background noise.
INSIGHT

Complexity of Nostalgia in Curtis Bay

  • Older and younger residents have distinct aspirations shaped by their experience of industrial decline.
  • Nostalgia is complex, reflecting material losses rather than yearning for a flawless past.
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