NBN Book of the Day Emily Walton, "Homesick: Race and Exclusion in Rural New England" (Stanford UP, 2025)
Jan 16, 2026
Emily Walton, an Associate Professor of Sociology at Dartmouth College and author of "Homesick: Race and Exclusion in Rural New England," dives into the complexities of race in rural areas. She explores how well-educated migrants of color face misrecognition and exclusion, despite living in a seemingly progressive region. Walton shares personal stories, contrasts economic disparities in towns, and discusses the emotional toll of homesickness on those feeling unwelcome. She advocates for civic storytelling and inclusive strategies to foster belonging in diversifying spaces.
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Doctor Misrecognized Over Accent
- Dr. Emily Walton recounts Sanvi, an Indian physician whose patients hung up when they heard her accent because they assumed she was a telemarketer.
- Small daily slights made Sanvi question whether the Upper Valley could be a home for her family.
Diverging Rural Fortunes
- The Upper Valley shows divergent rural trajectories: some towns thrive with med/ed jobs while others decline after industry loss.
- Racialized demographic change layers onto these socioeconomic divides, shaping tensions between towns.
Culture Of Reserve And Assimilation
- Northern New England culture blends reserve, whiteness, and colorblindness that blocks newcomers' inclusion.
- Expectation of assimilation pressures people of color to hide parts of themselves to fit in.
