From Countermemory to Collective Memory: Acknowledging the “Mississippi Burning” Murders

摘要: Sociologists have long been interested in collective representations of the past, as well processes through which individuals, groups, or events excluded from those representations. Despite this rich body literature, few studies examined long-silenced countermemory becomes integrated within “official” public memory. This study examines two instances silence breaking Philadelphia, Mississippi—the town notorious for silence, denial, and obstruction justice surrounding 1964 “Mississippi Burning” murders. By reconstructing comparing event structure twenty-fifth fortieth anniversary commemorations—both interracial community-wide unique having punctuated Philadelphia's prevailing on murders—this article finds that commemorability mnemonic capacity are necessary but insufficient factors “silence breaking” commemorations to emerge. identifies additional criteria publicly acknowledged pasts: pressure external forces, convergence interests between previously opposed favor acknowledgment.