If the story of “old stock” Vermonters celebrated figures like John Abner Mead, who did the story revile and/or push to the margins?
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Why was John Abner Mead such a celebrated exemplar of Vermont’s “old stock”?
Why do you think the origin story of “old stock” Vermonters arose when it did, at the very start of the 20th century? What social, economic, and demographic factors influenced its rise to popularity?
Read President Patton’s letter to the Middlebury community, dated September 27, 2021, which elucidates the College’s choice to remove the Mead name from the College chapel. Considering today’s readings, do you support or oppose the College’s decision to remove the Mead name? Additionally, what are your further reflections on the chapel renaming and Middlebury’s method of acknowledging complicity in Vermont eugenics?
In this class, we’ve recognized that origin stories diverge from academic histories, including fictional as well as factual elements. Narratives of survivance recounted by members of Vermont Abenaki groups arguably incorporate fictive elements, such as assertions of uninterrupted Abenaki presence and their central portrayal as victims of Vermont eugenics. Yet, these narratives also offer a strong sense of belonging to many Vermonters who align with Abenaki identity. How do we assess the benefits and harms of these identity narratives?
How did state-recognized Abenaki groups in Vermont incorporate the state’s historical involvement in eugenics into their identity narratives? What impact did their claims have on the state’s apology for its complicity in the eugenics movement?
How did the origin story of “old stock” Vermonters contribute to the ideology of the eugenics movement in Vermont, particularly during Governor John Abner Mead’s tenure, and what implications did this have for the state’s approach to population management and social policies?
In “Searching For the Words to Describe Myself,” Safia Elhillo describes the tension between her Arabophone identity and her Blackness, highlighting instances where she is perceived through a singular lens that erases aspects of her multifaceted identity. How does her experience shed light on the intersectionality of race, language, and culture in shaping migrant identity? How does her narrative complicate the idea of assimilation within the melting pot myth?
In light of the challenges posed by nativism in U.S. politics, what role do mainstream political parties play in either perpetuating or mitigating nativist tendencies? According to Kleinfeld and Dickas, how might these parties balance the need to address underlying anxieties while unequivocally condemning nativism? What lessons can be learned from the examples of other nations in addressing nativist movements?
Watch Tucker Carlson’s articulation of “The Great Replacement” theory during Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight on September 22, 2021:
How do proponents of “The Great Replacement” theory like Tucker Carlson define U.S. national belonging, and what version of U.S. national origins do they presuppose? How does this definition of national belonging intersect with notions of race, ethnicity, and migration, and what implications does it have for social cohesion and inclusivity in contemporary American society?
