Aram Goudsouzian is the Bizot Family Professor of History at the University of Memphis and author of numerous books on race, politics and culture. He serves on the Board of Directors at the National Civil Rights Museum.
There are 8 articles by Aram Goudsouzian :
“Studying history yields a dividend: It brings us to a clearer understanding of who we are, what we believe, and what we do when the promise of our national creed does not measure up to the reality of our lives.”
“The nation’s institutions should encourage an open exploration of its past — one that accounts for both triumphs and shortcomings, one that eschews sloppy oversimplification, one that highlights how history contains an array of voices that have shaped who we are today.”
“To study history, then, is not to regurgitate a timeline of events, but to engage in a dynamic process of interpretation, with stakes for how we define ourselves.”
Gene Bartow’s Tigers showcased a model of Black achievement and interracial harmony. If they make another NCAA Tournament run, we will again hear about how Memphians unite around basketball.
While African Americans in Memphis lent refuge and support to Meredith — and the city’s authorities generally decried the violent resistance in Oxford — many shared the twisted resentments of their southern neighbors.
Critics point out that these tragedies occurred outside of Memphis. They also complain that activists should focus on issues such as joblessness, educational deficits and crime. But in times of crisis, public protest is essential.
Memphis sports fans are enraged about the enforcement of amateurism on the immensely talented basketball center James Wiseman, arguing that the NCAA’s execution is arbitrary and biased. In fact, amateurism, by its very nature, is arbitrary and biased.
The presidential campaign of 1968 was a last hurrah for the “Old Politics,” in which political machines and party leaders determined the major nominees. It also highlighted a “New Politics,” in which candidates took their cases to the people, through party primaries and modern technology.
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