how’s it going today so I’m a public historian and like most people I really
historian and like most people I really
historian and like most people I really love to talk about the work that I do
love to talk about the work that I do
love to talk about the work that I do even when they don’t really want to
even when they don’t really want to
even when they don’t really want to listen one night at a dinner party a
listen one night at a dinner party a
listen one night at a dinner party a friend of mine said hey Adam no matter
friend of mine said hey Adam no matter
friend of mine said hey Adam no matter what we talk about tonight don’t bring
what we talk about tonight don’t bring
what we talk about tonight don’t bring up those Confederate memorials a person
up those Confederate memorials a person
up those Confederate memorials a person joining us is really sensitive about
joining us is really sensitive about
joining us is really sensitive about that topic of course I introduced myself
that topic of course I introduced myself
that topic of course I introduced myself I was very polite and I said hey did you
I was very polite and I said hey did you
I was very polite and I said hey did you hear they took down Jefferson Davis last
hear they took down Jefferson Davis last
hear they took down Jefferson Davis last night you should have seen my friend’s
night you should have seen my friend’s
night you should have seen my friend’s face she reminded me a lot of Stephanie
face she reminded me a lot of Stephanie
face she reminded me a lot of Stephanie tanner from full house and at that
tanner from full house and at that
tanner from full house and at that moment I realized that monuments had
moment I realized that monuments had
moment I realized that monuments had been shunned from the dinner table put
been shunned from the dinner table put
been shunned from the dinner table put into the same box as politics and
into the same box as politics and
into the same box as politics and religion one of those things you just
religion one of those things you just
religion one of those things you just don’t talk about but the problem with
don’t talk about but the problem with
don’t talk about but the problem with that is that communities must justify
that is that communities must justify
that is that communities must justify the reverence or the removal of these
the reverence or the removal of these
the reverence or the removal of these monuments to help with that I’ve
monuments to help with that I’ve
monuments to help with that I’ve developed a conversational tool box the
developed a conversational tool box the
developed a conversational tool box the first thing in this tool box is to
first thing in this tool box is to
first thing in this tool box is to understand why we memorialize to begin
understand why we memorialize to begin
understand why we memorialize to begin with but before we get there let’s talk
with but before we get there let’s talk
with but before we get there let’s talk about memory each and every one of us
about memory each and every one of us
about memory each and every one of us has individual memory it’s how you
has individual memory it’s how you
has individual memory it’s how you experience your life it’s how you
experience your life it’s how you
experience your life it’s how you remember people and places your memory
remember people and places your memory
remember people and places your memory is unique to you but public memory is
is unique to you but public memory is
is unique to you but public memory is how communities remember places and
how communities remember places and
how communities remember places and people it’s how communities experience
people it’s how communities experience
people it’s how communities experience growth you see monuments are built to
growth you see monuments are built to
growth you see monuments are built to reflect the public memory of a specific
reflect the public memory of a specific
reflect the public memory of a specific time and place they can be as enormous
time and place they can be as enormous
time and place they can be as enormous as the 9/11 memorial
as the 9/11 memorial
as the 9/11 memorial this serves a national audience for a
this serves a national audience for a
this serves a national audience for a tragedy on a national scale each and
tragedy on a national scale each and
tragedy on a national scale each and every one of you in here very likely
every one of you in here very likely
every one of you in here very likely remembers exactly what you were doing
remembers exactly what you were doing
remembers exactly what you were doing that day your memory your experience is
that day your memory your experience is
that day your memory your experience is different from the person sitting next
different from the person sitting next
different from the person sitting next to you but we all collectively share an
to you but we all collectively share an
to you but we all collectively share an understanding about what happened and
understanding about what happened and
understanding about what happened and its impact on American society on the
its impact on American society on the
its impact on American society on the other hand monuments could be as small
other hand monuments could be as small
other hand monuments could be as small and as localized as the boll weevil this
and as localized as the boll weevil this
and as localized as the boll weevil this monument is located in enterprise
monument is located in enterprise
monument is located in enterprise Alabama you see this town was devastated
Alabama you see this town was devastated
Alabama you see this town was devastated by a swarm of boll weevils in the 1800s
by a swarm of boll weevils in the 1800s
by a swarm of boll weevils in the 1800s and it destroyed their cotton crop this
and it destroyed their cotton crop this
and it destroyed their cotton crop this required the community to change their
required the community to change their
required the community to change their entire industry and to moralize that
entire industry and to moralize that
entire industry and to moralize that innovation they built this monument in
innovation they built this monument in
innovation they built this monument in the center of town so regardless on the
the center of town so regardless on the
the center of town so regardless on the size or the significance of the event we
size or the significance of the event we
size or the significance of the event we as communities remember a shared
as communities remember a shared
as communities remember a shared understanding of events that happen in
understanding of events that happen in
understanding of events that happen in our lifetimes so this brings us to the
our lifetimes so this brings us to the
our lifetimes so this brings us to the next point that monuments have been
next point that monuments have been
next point that monuments have been removed for just as long as they’ve been
removed for just as long as they’ve been
removed for just as long as they’ve been built see the issue with public memory
built see the issue with public memory
built see the issue with public memory is that it always changes because
is that it always changes because
is that it always changes because communities are always changing people
communities are always changing people
communities are always changing people move in and out generations have
move in and out generations have
move in and out generations have different perspectives communities
different perspectives communities
different perspectives communities change for all sorts of reasons maybe
change for all sorts of reasons maybe
change for all sorts of reasons maybe it’s military victories this is the
it’s military victories this is the
it’s military victories this is the destruction of the swastika at the Nazi
destruction of the swastika at the Nazi
destruction of the swastika at the Nazi parade grounds toward the end of World
parade grounds toward the end of World
parade grounds toward the end of World War two maybe it’s political change this
War two maybe it’s political change this
War two maybe it’s political change this is the statue of Joseph Stalin after the
is the statue of Joseph Stalin after the
is the statue of Joseph Stalin after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 how
fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 how
fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 how about something like rebellion this is
about something like rebellion this is
about something like rebellion this is the destruction of the King George
the destruction of the King George
the destruction of the King George statue
statue
statue New York City this is the American
New York City this is the American
New York City this is the American Revolution we remove monuments because
Revolution we remove monuments because
Revolution we remove monuments because they no longer represent our community’s
they no longer represent our community’s
they no longer represent our community’s values this brings us to the next item
values this brings us to the next item
values this brings us to the next item history is not taught at monuments one
history is not taught at monuments one
history is not taught at monuments one of the biggest arguments that we see
of the biggest arguments that we see
of the biggest arguments that we see today is that if we remove these
today is that if we remove these
today is that if we remove these Confederate monuments if we will remove
Confederate monuments if we will remove
Confederate monuments if we will remove any monuments
any monuments
any monuments we’re erasing history this argument is
we’re erasing history this argument is
we’re erasing history this argument is very complex and it’s it makes this
very complex and it’s it makes this
very complex and it’s it makes this conversation very very difficult
conversation very very difficult
conversation very very difficult so let’s critically analyze it and let
so let’s critically analyze it and let
so let’s critically analyze it and let me ask you two questions first where do
me ask you two questions first where do
me ask you two questions first where do you learn history here you would say
you learn history here you would say
you learn history here you would say universities schools books films
universities schools books films
universities schools books films documentaries and either museums if you
documentaries and either museums if you
documentaries and either museums if you come and visit in general in general we
come and visit in general in general we
come and visit in general in general we learn history from both formal and
learn history from both formal and
learn history from both formal and informal educational settings our next
informal educational settings our next
informal educational settings our next question is how do you remember history
question is how do you remember history
question is how do you remember history here is where things like folklore and
here is where things like folklore and
here is where things like folklore and traditions and street signs and even
traditions and street signs and even
traditions and street signs and even monuments and memorials all reside let’s
monuments and memorials all reside let’s
monuments and memorials all reside let’s be completely honest you cannot learn
be completely honest you cannot learn
be completely honest you cannot learn all the complexities of the civil rights
all the complexities of the civil rights
all the complexities of the civil rights movement by visiting the Martin Luther
movement by visiting the Martin Luther
movement by visiting the Martin Luther King memorial you also can’t learn it by
King memorial you also can’t learn it by
King memorial you also can’t learn it by walking down Martin Luther King Drive
these two things the monument and the
these two things the monument and the street name honored the man for his role
street name honored the man for his role
street name honored the man for his role in the civil rights movement but it also
in the civil rights movement but it also
in the civil rights movement but it also influences how you remember it this
influences how you remember it this
influences how you remember it this brings us to the last and probably the
brings us to the last and probably the
brings us to the last and probably the most critical point of this
most critical point of this
most critical point of this conversational toolbox it’s the
conversational toolbox it’s the
conversational toolbox it’s the importance of context
importance of context
importance of context anytime we discuss context people very
anytime we discuss context people very
anytime we discuss context people very often say hey let’s just change what the
often say hey let’s just change what the
often say hey let’s just change what the monument says let’s just add some new
monument says let’s just add some new
monument says let’s just add some new text to it that always doesn’t work
text to it that always doesn’t work
text to it that always doesn’t work here’s an example this monument is
here’s an example this monument is
here’s an example this monument is located in Colfax Louisiana and it
located in Colfax Louisiana and it
located in Colfax Louisiana and it memorializes the massacre of 150 African
memorializes the massacre of 150 African
memorializes the massacre of 150 African Americans during the 1872 gubernatorial
Americans during the 1872 gubernatorial
Americans during the 1872 gubernatorial election the monument if you read it
election the monument if you read it
election the monument if you read it it’s actually to the three white guys
it’s actually to the three white guys
it’s actually to the three white guys that died and it hails them as heroes
that died and it hails them as heroes
that died and it hails them as heroes fighting for white supremacy instead of
fighting for white supremacy instead of
fighting for white supremacy instead of removing this monument the state of
removing this monument the state of
removing this monument the state of Louisiana added this marker this marker
Louisiana added this marker this marker
Louisiana added this marker this marker identifies the 150 Negroes who were
identifies the 150 Negroes who were
identifies the 150 Negroes who were massacred and it calls the massacre of
massacred and it calls the massacre of
massacred and it calls the massacre of victory that marked the end of carpetbag
victory that marked the end of carpetbag
victory that marked the end of carpetbag misrule you see what the state tried to
misrule you see what the state tried to
misrule you see what the state tried to do here is they tried to turn this
do here is they tried to turn this
do here is they tried to turn this Monument this place of memory into a
Monument this place of memory into a
Monument this place of memory into a place of learning but because this
place of learning but because this
place of learning but because this language cannot be adjusted or changed
language cannot be adjusted or changed
language cannot be adjusted or changed or adapted as the community around it
or adapted as the community around it
or adapted as the community around it changes the marker becomes just as
changes the marker becomes just as
changes the marker becomes just as offensive as the original Monument
whenever we’re discussing context it’s
whenever we’re discussing context it’s not just about what’s written it’s also
not just about what’s written it’s also
not just about what’s written it’s also the context of place
the context of place
the context of place this statue is called Uncle Jack the
this statue is called Uncle Jack the
this statue is called Uncle Jack the good darky he it was located in
good darky he it was located in
good darky he it was located in Natchitoches Louisiana and it was cast
Natchitoches Louisiana and it was cast
Natchitoches Louisiana and it was cast in 1927 and its inscription said that it
in 1927 and its inscription said that it
in 1927 and its inscription said that it was to the arduous and faithful service
was to the arduous and faithful service
was to the arduous and faithful service of the good darkies of Louisiana as you
of the good darkies of Louisiana as you
of the good darkies of Louisiana as you can imagine by the 1960s this language
can imagine by the 1960s this language
can imagine by the 1960s this language was wildly offensive eventually the
was wildly offensive eventually the
was wildly offensive eventually the monument was removed and it was donated
monument was removed and it was donated
monument was removed and it was donated to the rural life museum in Baton Rouge
to the rural life museum in Baton Rouge
to the rural life museum in Baton Rouge Louisiana today this monument is used to
Louisiana today this monument is used to
Louisiana today this monument is used to teach visitors museum visitors about
teach visitors museum visitors about
teach visitors museum visitors about preindustrial Louisiana Society now just
preindustrial Louisiana Society now just
preindustrial Louisiana Society now just moving something to a museum doesn’t
moving something to a museum doesn’t
moving something to a museum doesn’t solve all the problems but it certainly
solve all the problems but it certainly
solve all the problems but it certainly is a step in the right direction so
is a step in the right direction so
is a step in the right direction so let’s revisit our toolbox you now have
let’s revisit our toolbox you now have
let’s revisit our toolbox you now have all of the tools necessary to have a
all of the tools necessary to have a
all of the tools necessary to have a successful conversation about monuments
successful conversation about monuments
successful conversation about monuments and memorials but how do you know when
and memorials but how do you know when
and memorials but how do you know when to pull it out of your tool shed how do
to pull it out of your tool shed how do
to pull it out of your tool shed how do you know when to open it up how do
you know when to open it up how do
you know when to open it up how do communities decide what is appropriate
communities decide what is appropriate
communities decide what is appropriate to answer that question let’s go back to
to answer that question let’s go back to
to answer that question let’s go back to New Orleans for just one minute in 2017
New Orleans for just one minute in 2017
New Orleans for just one minute in 2017 the city removed four Confederate
the city removed four Confederate
the city removed four Confederate memorials one that they left was Andrew
memorials one that they left was Andrew
memorials one that they left was Andrew Jackson now Jackson is not a Confederate
Jackson now Jackson is not a Confederate
Jackson now Jackson is not a Confederate but he was a slave owner but the city of
but he was a slave owner but the city of
but he was a slave owner but the city of New Orleans does not remember him for
New Orleans does not remember him for
New Orleans does not remember him for that the New Orleans community remembers
that the New Orleans community remembers
that the New Orleans community remembers him for his role as the savior of the
him for his role as the savior of the
him for his role as the savior of the city in the Battle of New Orleans at the
city in the Battle of New Orleans at the
city in the Battle of New Orleans at the end of the war of 1812 this is the same
end of the war of 1812 this is the same
end of the war of 1812 this is the same man that also killed tens of thousands
man that also killed tens of thousands
man that also killed tens of thousands of Native Americans across the
of Native Americans across the
of Native Americans across the southeastern parts of the United States
southeastern parts of the United States
southeastern parts of the United States so putting up a monument to Andrew
so putting up a monument to Andrew
so putting up a monument to Andrew Jackson in those Creek and Seminole
Jackson in those Creek and Seminole
Jackson in those Creek and Seminole communities in southern Alabama and
communities in southern Alabama and
communities in southern Alabama and Florida would be pretty inappropriate
Florida would be pretty inappropriate
Florida would be pretty inappropriate downright offensive
downright offensive
downright offensive but some people have said that if we
but some people have said that if we
but some people have said that if we allow these Confederate monuments to be
allow these Confederate monuments to be
allow these Confederate monuments to be removed then George Washington and
removed then George Washington and
removed then George Washington and Thomas Jefferson they’re sure to be next
Thomas Jefferson they’re sure to be next
Thomas Jefferson they’re sure to be next yeah they were slave owners but again
yeah they were slave owners but again
yeah they were slave owners but again that’s not how the national community
that’s not how the national community
that’s not how the national community remembers them we remember them for
remembers them we remember them for
remembers them we remember them for their role as founding fathers if you
their role as founding fathers if you
their role as founding fathers if you think your community just simply can’t
think your community just simply can’t
think your community just simply can’t have this conversation I’m gonna argue
have this conversation I’m gonna argue
have this conversation I’m gonna argue that you’re wrong
that you’re wrong
that you’re wrong every single community is going to have
every single community is going to have
every single community is going to have to have this conversation whether it’s
to have this conversation whether it’s
to have this conversation whether it’s about Confederate generals or founding
about Confederate generals or founding
about Confederate generals or founding fathers or the boll weevil luckily for
fathers or the boll weevil luckily for
fathers or the boll weevil luckily for my friend the conversation that I
my friend the conversation that I
my friend the conversation that I started at dinner stayed very civil very
started at dinner stayed very civil very
started at dinner stayed very civil very cordial I promise and but we enjoyed the
cordial I promise and but we enjoyed the
cordial I promise and but we enjoyed the safe
safe
safe privacy of someone’s dining room to have
privacy of someone’s dining room to have
privacy of someone’s dining room to have this very difficult conversation but for
this very difficult conversation but for
this very difficult conversation but for those of us who live and work among
those of us who live and work among
those of us who live and work among these monuments this topic is too
these monuments this topic is too
these monuments this topic is too important to ignore we must engage in
important to ignore we must engage in
important to ignore we must engage in these conversations because it’s our job
these conversations because it’s our job
these conversations because it’s our job as a society to constantly reevaluate
as a society to constantly reevaluate
as a society to constantly reevaluate what we Mase find appropriate
what we Mase find appropriate
what we Mase find appropriate inappropriate or downright wrong or even
inappropriate or downright wrong or even
inappropriate or downright wrong or even inaccurate
Confederate monuments are difficult to
Confederate monuments are difficult to talk about but armed with this toolbox I
talk about but armed with this toolbox I
talk about but armed with this toolbox I believe that we can all agree that
monuments in our communities should
monuments in our communities should reflect the values and the memory in
reflect the values and the memory in
reflect the values and the memory in which they exist
”
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