Generosity or genocide? Identity implications of silence in American Thanksgiving commemorations

Abstract

This paper investigates the identity implications of silence about genocide in commemorations of American Thanksgiving. In Study 1 we assessed the co-occurrence of national glorification themes with different forms of silence in commemoration products by conducting a content analysis of presidential Thanksgiving proclamations. In Study 2 we examined the extent to which different commemoration products are infused with particular beliefs and desires by measuring participants' reactions to different Thanksgiving commemorations-a literal-silence condition that did not mention Indigenous Peoples, an interpretive-silence condition that mentioned Indigenous Peoples but did not explicitly mention genocidal conquest, and an anti-silence condition that did mention genocidal conquest-as a function of national glorification. In Study 3 we manipulated exposure to different Thanksgiving commemorations (with associated forms of silence) and assessed the impact on national glorification and identity-relevant action. Results provide evidence for the hypothesised, bi-directional relationship between national glorification and silence about genocide in commemorations of American Thanksgiving.

A cultural psychological analysis of collective memory as mediated action: Constructions of Indian history

“…Similarly, exposure to glorifying constructions of history that celebrate national triumphs can enhance national identification (e.g., level of identification with nation as well as feelings of superiority), while exposure to critical constructions of history that acknowledge ingroup wrongdoing can undermine national identification and associated feelings of national superiority (Kurtiş, Adams, & Bird, 2010;Peetz, Gunn, & Wilson, 2010). Beyond the experience of national identification, reminders of historical injustice can also impact identity-relevant perception and action (Rees, Allpress, & Brown, 2013;Salter, Kelley, Molina, & Thai, 2017), including perception of present-day injustice and support or opposition to policies to address historical grievances (Sibley, Liu, Duckitt, & Khan, 2008).…”

When History Teaching Turns into Parrhesia: The Case of Italian Colonial Crimes

“…As a matter of fact, we have already quoted some examples in previous pages, since we may often appreciate this phenomenon today in various contexts: the literal denial of the Armenian genocide (Hovannisian 1998;Bilali 2013); the covering up of French collaboration with Nazi occupation (Campbell 2006); the social amnesia about the Italian colonial crimes perpetrated during the occupation of ethiopia (Leone and Sarrica 2012); the rhetoric of official discourses on Thanksgiving day, when US presidents avoid to remember the role of native Americans in episodes commemorated by this special day (Kurtiş et al 2010), to quote only a few. Instead of well-organized manipulation, historical denials dominant in many social situations are often simply the result of "a gradual seepage of knowledge down some collective black hole" (Cohen 2001, p. 13).…”

“…a process leading to a terrible genocide (Kurtiş et al 2010). But some other times, history teachers break down a silence about the facts that are not disputed, yet ignored by the large majority of society.…”

Collective memory as tool for intergroup conflict: The case of 9/11 commemoration

“…Commemoration events afford people the opportunity to act on the motivations for positive social identity and to remember the collective past in nation-glorifying or otherwise identity-enhancing ways: not only emphasizing collective triumphs, but also silencing collective failures through both outright omission and minimization of relevance for current events (Kurtiş, Adams, & Yellow Bird, 2010;Sahdra & Ross, 2007). Moreover, given the extent to which collective memory narratives project into the future and direct collective action (e.g., Hammack, 2011), people may use the opportunity of commemoration to remember a useful past that provides justification for current political projects.…”