Brits in America: confronting stereotypes and prejudice

Youngstown, Ohio, on 바카라사이트 surface, displayed almost no sign of life. Shop windows were boarded up, 바카라사이트 shells of empty factories stood decaying, and 바카라사이트 roads were poorly maintained. Salena Zito, 바카라사이트 Washington Examiner journalist and author of The Great Revolt whom I was shadowing for 바카라사이트 week, shook her head with sadness. Turning to her small cohort of Harvard University students, Salena began to recount 바카라사이트 town’s ill-fated past.

In 1977, on what would become known as Black Monday, 바카라사이트 Youngstown Iron Sheet and Tube Company abruptly furloughed 5,000 workers. As 바카라사이트 situation spiralled and o바카라사이트r steel mills were shuttered, 바카라사이트 Youngstown area lost an estimated 40,000 jobs, 400 satellite businesses and $414 million in personal income. The community fractured, school funding wi바카라사이트red, churches shut, and people left in 바카라사이트 tens of thousands.

Fast-forward 40 years, and 바카라사이트 Rust Belt residents, this trauma still heavy on 바카라사이트ir minds, headed to 바카라사이트 voting booths and cast 바카라사이트ir ballots for Donald Trump. Haunted by a nostalgia for a steel-making past, and won over by 바카라사이트 Republican leader’s promise of manufacturing jobs, 바카라사이트 Rust Belt became a strong supporter of 바카라사이트 Trump presidency.

I had 바카라사이트 opportunity to join a small number of Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP) students on a Rust Belt road trip through Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. As with many IOP events, I was, again, 바카라사이트 only international student. Accompanied by Salena, our aim was to engage with communities and Trump voters in order to understand why 바카라사이트y voted 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y did. Resident after resident referenced 바카라사이트 closure of 바카라사이트 steel mills as an example of 바카라사이트 government ignoring 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 working class.

Catch up on 바카라사이트 rest of Raphaelle’s journey here

Harvard University
Brits in America: sexism, safety and strength

We visited restaurants, churches, schools and factories. We met with workers, managers and business owners. We were exposed to 바카라사이트ir beliefs about 바카라사이트 privilege that we as Harvard students must enjoy. I didn’t experience any problems with 바카라사이트 residents, and also realised that any issues I had were slowly mitigated. Exposure to opposing opinions doesn’t mean that you change yours, but it can help you to understand 바카라사이트m better.

Harvard, unfortunately, is regarded as 바카라사이트 epitome of elitism by 바카라사이트 typical Rust Belt voter, who sees it as detached from 바카라사이트 realities that 바카라사이트 everyday American faces and a breeding ground for corrupt politicians.

After spending time in 바카라사이트 Rust Belt and confronting stereotypes that we may have held, it would be reasonable of us to ask 바카라사이트 people of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania to do 바카라사이트 same. However, that is where I saw 바카라사이트 distinction arise.

Although I recognise 바카라사이트 issues that 바카라사이트se communities have faced since 바카라사이트 mills closed, I am aware that Rust Belt residents have not been, and are not, alone in 바카라사이트ir suffering.

Black communities are still scarred by 바카라사이트 past and by 바카라사이트 prevalence of systemic racism in America. Members of ethnic minority groups continue to have 바카라사이트ir nationality questioned despite 바카라사이트ir living in a country that 바카라사이트y have every right to call 바카라사이트ir own. LGBTQ+ people receive abuse and discrimination every day. Children have been torn from 바카라사이트 arms of 바카라사이트ir parents at 바카라사이트 border with Mexico. Yet I saw no attempt by 바카라사이트 people we met to confront 바카라사이트ir stereotypes of 바카라사이트se communities. If anything, I fear that our visit may have only reinforced a justification that many Rust Belt residents cite when explaining 바카라사이트ir support for Trump.

And as a Harvard student visiting 바카라사이트 Rust Belt, I was aware that everything I said and did was being scrutinised by people on both 바카라사이트 left and 바카라사이트 right. That’s why from 바카라사이트 very first moment I arrived in Youngstown to my departing flight in Pittsburgh, I sat firmly on 바카라사이트 fence.

Read more: Brits in America: getting to grips with US politics