tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673866540559226577.post7780390124008741642..comments2023-10-25T06:05:29.362-07:00Comments on NCPH 2009 Conference Blog: The children will lead usUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1673866540559226577.post-53771100161449045002009-04-08T08:33:00.000-07:002009-04-08T08:33:00.000-07:00I don't know that inspiring activism is your role ...I don't know that inspiring activism is your role as a public historian, although it might be a responsibility as a citizen.<BR/><BR/>As to the apathy; I grew up a middle-class white child in North Carolina. When we discussed slavery or the civil rights movement in school, there was always a message of guilt underlying it ("We are the white southerners, we must atone for the sins of the past"). It was also the most iterated point in history for us, and as a result we (or at least I) grew bored of it quickly. Even as an 10 year old, I knew that it was ridiculous to feel responsible for the actions of people who weren't even my ancestors!<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure what the solution is to this problem. I can only suggest that people be aware that some of us grew up having a certain view of civil rights and slavery pounded into our heads, and we won't be able to renew our interest without a serious spark.<BR/><BR/>(I was lucky - my mother told me her side of the story, a college student marching with Dr. King in Birmingham)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06821184029924765393noreply@blogger.com