Dr. Roemer began the discussion by outlining some of the main topics of Dr. Neiman’s book that merit consideration. One important factor is the comparison between how Germany has dealt with its legacy of the Third Reich and the absence of such memory work in the United States concerning its history of slavery.
Dr. Neiman argued that part of the crisis of the humanities derives from the fact that most academics make no effort to write in a manner that is accessible to wider audiences, and as a consequence, there is a lack of public engagement with issues related to the humanities. She described her discovery of the Einstein Forum as “an interdisciplinary, international public think tank,” the nature of which provided her the opportunity to engage in both the academic and public spheres.
She described her interest in "cultures of remembrance" and how they operate, or the lack thereof, which raises questions concerning how collective groups approach their own histories, and in particular, why certain national pasts are either commemorated or forgotten. Dr. Neiman highlighted the Vietnam War and Hiroshima as two events in American history that have not been subject to public discourse.
Dr. Neiman explained how the German concept of vergangenheitsaufarbeitung, which she defined as “working off the past,” inspired parts of her research studies. She emphasized the importance of open public discussions about the ways in which nations have talked about and dealt with the evils of their own pasts. Such examples illustrate how racial injustices and discrimination have been addressed and confronted elsewhere in the world.
While she lauds Germany’s efforts to come to terms with their Nazi past, at the same time she also expressed concern over the recent political changes that have taken place in Germany over the past few years. Specifically, a recent shift to the radical left with the gains of the Red-Green Coalition (the Social Democratic Party) in parliamentary power. The party's political platform espouses very different attitudes towards the idea of "Germanness," the presence of foreigners, and Jews.
Dr. Neiman argues that the equivalent of the “American vergangenheitsaufarbeitung” occurred in June of 2015 when President Barack Obama delivered a nationally televised eulogy for the victims of the Charleston church bombing, marking a watershed moment in U.S. history as the first time that a national public figure made connections between present-day violence and the violence of the past. She emphasized that this episode serves as a turning point for the U.S., one in which Americans began thinking publicly about their own history of racism and violence. Further resulting from the changes that have taken place in the U.S. over the last four years, is that now, how Germany and the German people have dealt with their Nazi past has become a topic of interest to the American public. Dr. Neiman stated that she decided to write her book that same year.
She concluded the discussion by emphasizing the importance of understanding how the ways in which we approach our own histories have contemporary relevance and imparts meaning to future generations. Each of us is charged with the responsibility and accountability to actively participate in our own memory work.
A recording of this event can be viewed by clicking here.
