My Three Dads

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Jessa Crispin intertwines personal narrative with historical and contemporary events to delve into the darker aspects of her Kansas upbringing. She examines the Midwest's revered status in American identity and the foundational myths that define what it means to be "American." While aspects of Midwestern life—such as the nuclear family and small-town friendliness—are often romanticized, Crispin argues that these so-called Midwestern values mask a troubling history of oppression against Native Americans, women, and the economically disadvantaged. Her exploration spans various subjects, including The Wizard of Oz, radical militias, and the infamous Clutter family murders, as well as her own shock at the violent actions of a beloved art teacher. She traces her inquiry back to the Civil War and the arrival of German religious communities before crossing the Atlantic to visit a women's seminary in Amsterdam, a refuge from violence and abuse since the Reformation. Despite the pervasive darkness, Crispin reveals a form of bleak redemption, suggesting that no matter how far one travels, the roots of one's origin remain ever-present, "like it or not."