According to Klein, collective memory is a “diverse and shifting collection of materials, artifacts and social practices. ” This ever shifting collection of memories transforms over time due to the social construction or re-scripting of memory through conversation. Any sort of interpersonal interaction with the goal of coming to a consensus about a single event has the possibility of being a site for conflict. The changing historical narratives and how these shifts speak to the broader issues of race, identity, geography, and memory influence the main questions of this essay: How do the shifting dynamics and influx of minority communities affect White supremacists’ ability to continue to control America’s collective memory? How are specific
…show more content…
How does a new group assimilate into a culture that is not representative of its own? King argues that the new group must first recognize that it is in the process of assimilating in order to recognize the oppression the group is experiencing. This can often be traumatic. Once a group identifies the need for a re-forging or correction of its current history, racial conflict erupts. The opposition to ethnic studies in Arizona is an example of a minority group’s recognition of the need to re-forge the collective memory of Latinos in the Arizona school system. In this example, Latino ethnic study courses provided all students an opportunity to learn about history through the perspective of another culture. The students were learning language arts and history through a Latino perspective, which many Latino students found extremely beneficial. As most students explained in the PBS documentary, Precious Knowledge, the ethnic studies program was most beneficial to Latino students, because despite their history of immigration, the students were able to learn about their own culture within the larger American context. Ultimately, this program provided the Latino students a chance to forge their own collective …show more content…
Stereotypes such as thug, gangster, mammy, or Jezebel inaccurately place labels upon Black people. Recently, in many of the police brutality cases, Black male victims are characterized as disrespectful, overtly aggressive, and faulted with their own death. These assumptions and portrayals within the media stem from stereotypes originating since slave times. Thomas Jefferson found African slaves to be an “inferior race” that is incapable of functioning as a White person would. A founding father of the United States of America, through an assumption and inadequate scientific evidence, declared an entire race as inferior. This declaration continues to remain just as the Declaration of Independence will forever be memorialized as a crucial moment in American history. In opposition, many Black people work hard to break the multiple stereotypes associated with their race. This was demonstrated best during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s through peaceful, non-violent protests where Blacks dressed in their Sunday best. The Black protesters presented themselves in this way in order to re-forge the collective identity previously placed upon
How does a new group assimilate into a culture that is not representative of its own? King argues that the new group must first recognize that it is in the process of assimilating in order to recognize the oppression the group is experiencing. This can often be traumatic. Once a group identifies the need for a re-forging or correction of its current history, racial conflict erupts. The opposition to ethnic studies in Arizona is an example of a minority group’s recognition of the need to re-forge the collective memory of Latinos in the Arizona school system. In this example, Latino ethnic study courses provided all students an opportunity to learn about history through the perspective of another culture. The students were learning language arts and history through a Latino perspective, which many Latino students found extremely beneficial. As most students explained in the PBS documentary, Precious Knowledge, the ethnic studies program was most beneficial to Latino students, because despite their history of immigration, the students were able to learn about their own culture within the larger American context. Ultimately, this program provided the Latino students a chance to forge their own collective …show more content…
Stereotypes such as thug, gangster, mammy, or Jezebel inaccurately place labels upon Black people. Recently, in many of the police brutality cases, Black male victims are characterized as disrespectful, overtly aggressive, and faulted with their own death. These assumptions and portrayals within the media stem from stereotypes originating since slave times. Thomas Jefferson found African slaves to be an “inferior race” that is incapable of functioning as a White person would. A founding father of the United States of America, through an assumption and inadequate scientific evidence, declared an entire race as inferior. This declaration continues to remain just as the Declaration of Independence will forever be memorialized as a crucial moment in American history. In opposition, many Black people work hard to break the multiple stereotypes associated with their race. This was demonstrated best during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s through peaceful, non-violent protests where Blacks dressed in their Sunday best. The Black protesters presented themselves in this way in order to re-forge the collective identity previously placed upon