Podcast Summary: New Books Network – Emily Walton on "Homesick: Race and Exclusion in Rural New England"
Episode Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Richard Osijo
Guest: Emily Walton, Associate Professor of Sociology, Dartmouth College
Book Discussed: Homesick: Race and Exclusion in Rural New England (Stanford UP, 2025)

Overview

This episode features a conversation with sociologist Emily Walton about her new book, Homesick: Race and Exclusion in Rural New England. Walton presents findings from an in-depth qualitative study of well-educated, non-white newcomers in majority-white rural communities in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont—a setting facing both economic transformation and increasing demographic diversity. The discussion centers on the complexities of rural gentrification, cultural barriers, the processes of misrecognition and exclusion, and offers suggestions for greater community inclusion.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Author Background and Motivation

• Walton’s Trajectory:
  Walton describes her journey from urban Montana to the academic Northeast, shifting from quantitative studies of race and urbanization to qualitative ethnography.
  • "I really kind of fell in love with that qualitative tradition of asking about like, why and how is this happening?" (03:02)
• Personal Connection:
  Her own experience as a newcomer, even as a white woman, led her to question how people of color navigate closed rural cultures.

2. Case Study: The Upper Valley, New England

• Region Defined:
  The Upper Valley spans rural towns between New Hampshire and Vermont, with stark divides between prosperous (core) areas like Hanover and struggling (periphery) towns like Claremont.
  • "Hanover... is very wealthy... most people work in education or healthcare. This is really different from a place like Claremont, which... schools are struggling." (12:55)
• Rare Rural Gentrification:
  Unlike rural areas experiencing decline, the Upper Valley attracts highly skilled, non-white workers—mainly in health and education ("meds and eds")—who still experience cultural resistance and exclusion.

3. Tensions Between Newcomers and Locals

• Story of Sanvi:
  An Indian physician moves to the region with optimism but encounters subtle and overt exclusion, misperceptions, and slights (e.g., patients hanging up on hearing her accent).
  • "It was really about not being seen in the way that they saw themselves, which is valuable, complex, interesting, highly educated people... a concept that I call misrecognition." (08:52)

4. Culture and "New Englandness"

• Cultural Reserve, Cliquishness:
  A regional ethos of self-reliance and reserve creates barriers to social inclusion.
  • "Moving here, I was like, wow... People keep to themselves." (18:44)
  • "We are of this place or you aren't of this place." (19:17)
• White Cultural Dominance and Colorblindness:
  The area’s history and institutions reflect, and reproduce, white cultural norms. Many locals are unaware or in denial about local racism.
  • "People here think that they have educated the racism away..." (22:45)
  • "We say we don't see diversity" (21:54)
• Assimilation Expectation:
  Newcomers are expected to conform; difference is not celebrated.
  • "You can move here as long as you act like we do. And if you don't want to do that, then you're welcome to go back where you came from." (24:53)

5. Misrecognition: Social and Psychological Dynamics

• Concept Defined:
  Being consistently seen as "outsiders" or "not belonging"—even in professional, social, and institutional life.
  • "It's a social process whereby we create boundaries between individuals. We say, we are us, you are them." (27:10)
• Manifestations:
  • Explicit Racism: Slurs, being ignored in public, institutional racism (e.g., school mascots, hiring discrimination, police surveillance).
    • "She had numerous stories about people calling her the N word, about not being paid attention to at a used car lot..." (27:48)
  • Social Distance: Difficulty breaking into established social networks; being tested or judged based on stereotypes.
    • "A lot of people talked about, you know, I've lived here for 13 years, and I still feel isolated." (30:56)
  • Provisional Acceptance: Being tentatively accepted but always under scrutiny; repeatedly asked to justify one's presence or legitimacy.
    • "Samuel... had a veterans license plate... The client was like, the Haitian Navy? And Samuel was like, no, the United States Navy." (32:06)
    • "A client came in and said, well, are you legal? Do you have citizenship?" (32:46)

6. Psychological Consequences: Homesickness

• Definition and Symptoms:
  A deep longing for belonging or comfort; manifests as insecurity, anxiety, and exhaustion.
  • "Homesickness manifested in different ways... insecurity, a lack of comfort, a lack of safety... anxiety... feeling tired, exhaustion." (35:03)
• Coping Strategies:
  • Forming Alternative Communities: Building connection with other outsiders.
  • Keeping Guard Up: Emotional “armor” against daily slights.
  • Ignoring or Rationalizing: Trying to “rise above” or not personalize the incidents.
  • Withdrawal or Leaving: Many see their stay as temporary or ultimately leave.
    • “Many of the participants had contemplated it or had done it... More than half, actually.” (40:43)
    • “I'm not sure when my expiration date is, but I know that I have one.” (41:09)

7. Recommendations for Change

• For Civic Leaders and Institutions:
  Move from assimilation to true multiculturalism; intentionally foster inclusivity for community cohesion and resilience.
  • "We as a community are going to change to become a new place that is nothing like what we were..." (42:31)
  • Advocacy and branding campaigns to signal welcome and belonging.
• For Cultural/Educational/Religious Leaders:
  Use storytelling (e.g., "Humans of the Upper Valley" blog) to humanize newcomers and foster empathy without placing burdens on marginalized groups.
  • "Publishing something like this helps... a low stakes way to get to know other people without having to have that interaction." (44:27)
  • Recognition of local indigenous histories and populations.
• For Individuals:
  Practice everyday solidarity, educate oneself, approach differences with openness (and not suspicion), and recognize the labor involved in asking for personal stories.
  • "You can't have your racism removed... you need to do the reading." (46:00)
  • "Find the thing that is the cause that you can support and join it... It doesn’t have to be a high stakes kind of protest." (48:27)
• Collective Effort Required:
  Cultural, institutional, and individual change must all intersect to combat exclusion and make rural diversification sustainable.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Persistent Barriers:
  • “It turned out that it wasn’t a place that they could call home.” (10:43, Emily Walton)
• On Denial of Racism:
  • "People here think that they have educated the racism away, which I think is a common sort of phenomenon in these sort of white woke communities..." (22:45, Emily Walton)
• On The Cost of Exclusion:
  • "I don’t want to open up any more relationship accounts. I’m done." (38:59, participant Remy via Walton)
  • “Many of the participants... just decided it was so culturally different... they were going to pursue their dreams elsewhere.” (40:43)
• On Recommendations:
  • "It's in everyone's best interest to do it right... these rural areas... need to make a change." (41:45, Emily Walton)
• On Everyday Action:
  • "You can't have your racism removed... you need to do the reading." (46:00, Emily Walton)
  • “Find the thing that is the cause that you can support and join it.” (48:27, Emily Walton)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:04] – Author’s background, motivations, and shift to qualitative research
• [06:50] – Sanvi’s story: Subtle and overt exclusion of non-white professionals
• [11:24] – Upper Valley’s socioeconomic contrasts; the core vs. periphery
• [18:31] – “New Englandness”: reserve, cliquishness, and white cultural dominance
• [27:08] – Misrecognition: explicit racism, social distance, provisional acceptance
• [34:51] – Homesickness: insecurity, anxiety, exhaustion, and “expiration dates”
• [41:41] – Suggestions for inclusion: leadership, storytelling, individual solidarity
• [50:31] – Walton’s future research: exurbs and contemporary patterns of white flight

Tone and Style

The conversation is candid and analytical, blending personal anecdotes, theoretical insight, and participant narratives. Walton’s explanations are empathetic, pragmatic, and sociologically rigorous. The mood ranges from hopeful to sobering, especially when discussing the mental toll on marginalized individuals and the importance of shared social responsibility.

For listeners seeking to understand the everyday realities of racial exclusion in rural, “progressive,” gentrifying settings—and how communities can change course—this episode provides both a vivid account and a thoughtful roadmap.