Abstract
In the 18 years since the Rwandan genocide, which left approximately 1,000,000 people dead in 100 days, much has changed for Rwandans. This paper will examine the history of the genocide, including the international response to the killings and developments in peace and reconciliation. This paper also examines anthropological data from college-age Rwandese, whose names have been fictionalized, and historical information from older generations who lived through the genocide. I argue that the students represent a significant social change in the history of Rwanda. Their experiences contrast sharply with those of their parents, who grew up in a colonial world of identity cards and government-controlled media. While studying in the United States, these students have found ways to integrate their country’s history into their daily experiences through involvement in student organizations and community- wide memorial events to promote a better understanding of the history of Rwanda and its current path to peace and reconciliation.
Recommended Citation
Randall, Heather
(2012)
"Reconstructing History: An Inter-Generational Perspective on Collective Memories and Constructed Identities in Post-Genocide Rwanda,"
Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 13, Article 8.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/inquiry/vol13/iss1/8
