Notes on Generations and Collective Memory in Civil Rights

Overview of Generational Memory and Civil Rights

• Generational Identity (Mannheim's Theory): Research shows that age significantly affects memory of important national events.
  • Study by Schuman and Scott (1989) validated Mannheim's theory using a national sample of Americans.
  • Civil Rights movement recall did not show expected age patterns among whites, hypothesized that this was due to regional differences.

Key Hypotheses

• Regional Impact on Memory: Southern whites who were mature teenagers or young adults during the Civil Rights movement will recall it more than their peers from other regions.
  • Hypothesis 1: Southern whites from this cohort will have a greater memory of Civil Rights.
  • Hypothesis 2: This cohort will attribute more historical significance to the Civil Rights movement compared to other groups.

Collective Memory and Its Features

• Three Premises of Collective Memory:
  1. The past persists and influences the present and the future.
  2. Memory is shaped by social contexts, making it intersubjective.
  3. Collective memories play a role in shaping identities and defining grievances.
• Memory as a Social Phenomenon: Elaboration on how collective memories can validate identities and contribute to narratives within communities.

Research Methodology

• Schuman and Scott’s 1985 study utilized open-ended questions to assess spontaneous recollections of key events among Americans.
• Data used from 1993 General Social Survey (GSS) helps to explore reinforcing patterns of recollection among different cohorts and regions.

Notable Findings

• Southern whites aged 42-64 in 1993 recalled the Civil Rights movement frequently compared to their peers in other regions:
  • 17.7% mentioned it compared to lower percentages from non-Southern regions.
• Among African Americans, 54% recalled the Civil Rights movement, while only about 6% of whites did.
• The Civil Rights movement looms large in Southern memory, creating a collective memory distinct from other regions.
• Statistical Analysis: Logistical regression confirms significant differences in Civil Rights memory relating to region and cohort, adjusting for educational background and gender.
  • Findings consistently indicate that age and region significantly influence how collective memories are formed and maintained.

Conclusions Drawn

• Significance of Place: The Civil Rights movement's location in the South means that it has a different living legacy than similar movements in other regions, affecting its recall and significance.
• Future Research: Further examination needed into how collective memories shape present-day racial attitudes and how they are institutionalized within public consciousness.
• Potential Areas of Influence: Explore the role of collective memory in political and social conditions today, shaping identity and social action.