Dr. Jennifer E. Potter presents Bushwhackers and Border Wars: A Small Town’s Celebration of a Complicated and Contested History
The project focuses on the Bushwhacker Days celebration in a small town in Southern Missouri, a celebration that is infused with confederate pride and celebrations of heritage of a predominately white town that has long-identified with the confederacy. Through archival research and in-depth interviews, I explore the ways in which this community celebrates the town’s heritage and displays the controversial confederate symbols in the midst of a national conversation about the validity and utility of such symbols. Ultimately, I argue that community members have an opportunity to grapple with racism and privilege through the context of community pride, yet most residents prefer to celebrate without reflection.
November 10th at 12:00 pm in Media Center 201.
