After Charlottesville: Public Memory and the Contested Meaning of Monuments

Are Civil War monuments a kind remembrance or a reminder of a dark past? The instructional activity focuses on the public's memory of the Civil War and the monuments that represent it. Young academics explore past efforts to change historical symbols and how history can be contested by different groups. Historians read text excerpts and participate in group discussion to understand the impact Civil War monuments have had on the African American community. Scholars also create their own memorials to commemorate an historic event.