What must we remember?

This last link I posted has me wondering, have we finished? Or is there more to say. I ended with a question: What must we remember?

I recently had a phone call from Cobey Black, the author of Hawaii Scandal, one of my important resource books. She marveled that people were still talking about the Massie Affair, over 80 years old. We talked a little about why these events still remain in our collective memory.

It must be because there are things that we we do remember and must remember about this affair. I don't think it's about racism per se. For me there's no sense in rehashing injustice unless it's going to lead to something better now.

So, I ask you, what must we remember?

Talk story

  1. BetweenWatersUnseen says:

    That's an interesting, and I think an important question considering events of recent years. Also 'What is Remembered' about the event? When you folks first announced the theme for the renshi last year, I was not really aware of the Massie Affair. I had to talk story with a few folks before I could get a real firm idea of the whole story, and even then, the tellings differed dramatically. This renshi is so significant not only because of some of the important points/aspects of the case that are being brought up, but that some complicated aspects of local culture are also surfacing. Mahalo.

  2. OldToby says:

    Dear Jean,

    as a student-assistant at the University of Heidelberg History Department
    im on a research project on the
    Thalia Massie rape case from 1931 (Territory of Hawaii v. Ben Ahakuelo et al.) and the
    following manslaughter case from 1932 (Territory of Hawaii v. Grace Fortescue, et al.).
    I'm searching for documents related to the case, at the moment mainly newspaper articles (Honolulu
    Advertiser, Star Bulletin, Hawaiʻi Hochi and so on).

    Are there any collections available related to this topic?

    Apart from proquest historical newspapers it's not easy to get access to contents related to this subject – neither primary sources nor secondary literature. Are there any collections or pages you can recommend?

    Kind regards

    Jan

    P.S.

    I'm living and working in Heidelberg, Germany. That's why i'm bound to email
    communication and sources available on the internet.

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