As we step into 2026, it’s nearly impossible to turn on the news or open social media apps and not see how political divides bleed into everyday conversations.
It can be easy to question why I keep showing up for conversations about belonging or civility, or what difference it makes when it feels like society is burning around us.
I’ve needed reminders of why these conversations matter. That’s part of what drew me back to a book I first read a couple years ago, “Another Appalachia” by Neema Avashia.
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Neema Avashia’s “Another Appalachia” is a memoir of growing up the daughter of Indian immigrants in rural West Virginia and later coming to terms with how her queer identity impacts how she feels at home when she returns as an adult.
She blends personal stories with reflections on race, gender, class, and home. In Appalachia, she doesn’t fit the stereotypes, yet her love for that place runs deep. The book explores what it means to belong, how identity shifts in different spaces, and how her Appalachian roots shaped her perspective.
Assimilation to fit in
Throughout the book, Avashia describes how she and her family managed to assimilate in order to belong in the community around them. She grew up as the daughter of an Indian doctor in a community where many families welcomed them into their homes. But the color of their skin often meant making choices to fit in, whether that was intentionally hanging U.S. flags after 9/11 to show they belonged in spite of racial tensions, or adapting to the expectations of their neighbors in cultural food traditions.
As she grew older, Avashia also navigated what it meant to return home as a queer woman. There were times she left parts of herself behind, like choosing not to bring her female partner to avoid conflict when she visited families she grew up with, in fear of rejection or retaliation.
That need to navigate assimilation hits home for me. I’ve regularly been in situations in rural communities, work or agricultural events where I’ve had to decide: Do I correct assumptions or let them pass? Do I bring my full self or leave parts behind to keep things simple? How do I respond to the question about having a wife/girlfriend, or do I just let it pass? Do I respond to a comment about political issues that impact me or come up with something that’s more fitting with what the other person will let pass?
I think many of us find ourselves in situations where we feel the need to assimilate to avoid conflict. It was valuable to me to hear this from someone else’s perspective.
Visibility serving others
A section of this book that really made me stop and think was when Avashia said, “Through our very existence, we make the existence of more of us possible.”
It’s easy to think of visibility as something personal and about claiming space for ourselves. But really, when we show up, we make it easier for others to see that doing the same is possible.
Being visible about our identities and beliefs isn’t just about us; it’s about the person watching, who might need that permission to know that it’s ok to be themselves.
This is especially true in agriculture and our rural communities, where assimilation is rewarded and where belonging isn’t always guaranteed for those who bring diversity of identity or beliefs.
By being visible in who we are, we create room for others to show up as themselves as well.
If you’ve read this book, I’d also love to hear if these are experiences you also find yourself navigating.
And if you haven’t read it, I’d encourage you to pick up Another Appalachia by Neema Avashia and let me know what you think.
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