Malleable national collective memories among Black and White Americans
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Black and White Americans recall U.S. history differently, with Black participants emphasizing race-relevant events. Collective memory shifts temporarily following significant events like George Floyd's murder, highlighting group differences.
Area Of Science
- Social Psychology
- Collective Memory Studies
- American History Perception
Background
- Understanding how diverse groups within a nation remember shared historical events is crucial.
- Investigating individual differences and external influences on collective memory is essential.
- Exploring the malleability and temporal extent of changes in national collective memory.
Purpose Of The Study
- To examine differences in national collective memory between Black and White Americans.
- To assess the impact of individual differences and external influences on collective memory.
- To determine the duration of changes in collective memory following external events.
Main Methods
- Four studies involved participants identifying "most important" U.S. historical events.
- Data collected on political ideology, racial, and national identification.
- External influences included identity salience manipulation, George Floyd's murder, and July 4th celebrations.
Main Results
- Black participants identified more race-relevant events; White participants identified more traditional founding events.
- Collective memory showed malleability only after the murder of George Floyd, increasing race-relevant event mentions.
- The increase in race-relevant events was temporary, with traditional founding events remaining stable.
Conclusions
- National collective memories exhibit differences based on racial subgroups.
- External events, particularly those highlighting racial injustice, can temporarily alter collective memory.
- Findings underscore the dynamic nature of collective memory and the concept of mnemonic inertia.
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