Making American Memory Great Again

The phrasing of Trump’s campaign slogan "Make America great again" evokes the concept of historical and social memory. It has frequently been pointed out that the America which is remembered as great by some is not so fondly recalled by others. Thus, we argue, there is much at stake in how memory is made, particularly at public sites where America’s greatness is contested. How is memory made in these places? Whose voices are represented and who controls access? What is the role of heritage professionals in negotiating these narratives? And how are communities taking back control, asserting their own stakes in our iconic American stories and demanding recognition (e.g. "Immigrants make America great" and Black Lives Matter). In this session we ask participants to reflect upon the changing nature of American historical memory at sites, up to and including the contemporary moment.