Nobody Wants Us

In September 1940, three teenagers were trapped on a steamship in the port of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Along with over 80 other exhausted refugees, the teens were hoping to be allowed on American soil — where millions of others in distress had safely landed before them. But times had changed. America was turning away refugees at this critical time in history. Would they be turned away too? Nobody Wants Us is their story.

Through the stories of three teens, we learn about the inherent goodness of others at a time when the world seemed to be against them. With the help of a Virginia maritime lawyer, the First Lady of the United States, and a State Department employee, they eventually found freedom on the shores of Hampton Roads in VA.

Nobody Wants Us tells the story of some of the last refugees allowed into the United States until the end of World War II. With this first-hand account of Holocaust survivors who resettled in the U.S. in 1940, our goal is to create a better understanding of the plight of refugees everywhere.

This is a timely story that parallels how the United States responds to many refugees fleeing war-torn countries over the years. The relevance of this story goes far beyond the historical significance of the S.S. Quanza. It reinforces the concept of helping those in need in any way possible - especially in light of the United States’ response to the refugee crisis today.

This 44-minute EMMY nominated film, paired with 14 standards of learning-aligned modules, enriches Holocaust curriculums by broadening the context, sharing personal stories carefully vetted by experts, and providing high-quality content teachers need to engage their students. Visit NobodyWantsUs.com to request access.