Farmington
I represent Farmington because, as a student studying here, I have personally uncovered the city’s legacy as a vital sanctuary for the Underground Railroad and the birthplace of American deaf education.
I am excavating the "unspoken narrative" of historical sanctuaries—from abolitionist safe houses hidden in school dorms to archives of marginalized communities—that have been eclipsed by official records. My research reconstructs how Farmington acted as a moral nexus for those fleeing systemic erasure, bridging the gap between historical silence and the lived reality of the oppressed. I seek to spotlight how these local, "small" histories served as global precursors to modern human rights movements.
This project matters because it demonstrates that the "grammar of power" can be subverted by ordinary spaces and nameless actors who choose inclusion over exclusion. By reclaiming these narratives, we validate the humanistic value of those history attempted to leave behind and inspire current generations to recognize the moral potential of their own backyards.
—Yuman Wu
Yuman Wu
Chapter Leader
A senior at Miss Porter's, Yuman is deeply curious about East Asian studies and international relations. Her research spans CCP censorship policies and the evolution of deaf education in the United States, consistently prioritizing a lens that uplifts marginalized narratives.
Farmington was a vital sanctuary for marginalized communities, acting as a moral nexus for both fugitive slaves and deaf individuals in the 19th century. Local spaces and families created “small” histories that have served as precursors to global human rights movements.
Team Members
Rochelle Lu
A junior at Miss Porter’s, Rochelle is especially interested in neuroscience and history, and she seeks a perspective that uncovers how the past informs our minds and shapes our present.