Whethervalorizedastheheartlandorderidedasflyovercountry,theMidwestbecameinstantlynotoriouswhenCOVID-19infectionsskyrocketedamongworkersinmeatpackingplants--andAmericansfearedfortheirmeatsupply.ButtheMidwestisnotsimplytheplacewhereanimalsarefedcornandthenbutchered.NativemidwesternerKristyNabhan-WarrenspentyearsinterviewingIowanswhoworkinthemeatpackingindustry,bothnative-bornresidentsandrecentmigrantsfromLatinAmerica,Africa,andAsia.InMeatpackingAmerica,shedigsdeepbelowthestereotypeandrevealsthegritandgraceofaheartlandthatisamajorglobalhubofmigrationandfoodproduction--andalso,itturnsout,ofreligion.Acrosstheflatlands,Protestants,Catholics,andMuslimssharespaceeverydayasworshippers,employees,andemployers.Onthebloodyfloorsofmeatpackingplants,inbustlingplacesofworship,andinmodestfamilyhomes,longtimeandnewlyarrivedIowansspoketoNabhan-Warrenabouttheirpassionforreligiousfaithanddesiretoworkhardfortheirfamilies.Theirstoriesexposehowfaith-basedaspirationsformutualunderstandingblenduneasilywithrampanteconomicexploitationandracialbiases.Still,thesenewandoldmidwesternerssaythatamutuallanguageoffaithandmoralsbringsthemtogethermorethananyofthemwouldhaveeverexpected.
