Collective Guilt

The Holocaust came to an end in 1945, and slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865. Many of the individuals who directly experienced these horrific events are no longer living, but descendants of these victims claim to suffer lasting effects. However, these lingering traces of historical trauma extend even further: descendants of oppressors and perpetrators are often held to be responsible for the atrocities as well. Notions of collective guilt and punishment have been debated from the immediate aftermath of these atrocities to the present, with issues including reparations and admissions of guilt among the contentious topics. This compelling resource tackles this tough topic.