Constance Mandeville, PhD Student, University of South Carolina
Proposal Type
Panel
Seeking
- Seeking Additional Presenters
Related Topics
- Museums/Exhibits
- Oral History
Abstract
In 2016 trans bathroom bills became the biggest political issue causing many trans lifelines to be overloaded with phone calls. From poverty, death by suicide, and violence trans lives have been in danger for some time. Yet every time someone trans is murdered or dies by suicide (approx. 21 trans people were murdered in 2015), their lives are overlooked by mainstream media.
Public history is not addressing trans lives. They are often not included in LGBT history exhibits or groups. We need to add trans history to the mainstream to help the public realize that trans identity is not new. In Columbia, South Carolina I started an oral history project with members of the trans community and trans youth to bring this history to the middle
Seeking
Between Blacklivesmatter and Translivesmatter, the only time we focus on people affected by violence is only after people have the agency to add their histories to the national narrative. But how do we take these histories away from the edges and bring them to the middle?
I am currently starting an oral history project with members of the trans community and trans youth in Columbia, South Carolina. The project focuses on all aspects of life, not just the the sad or violent stories but the stories of community, love, and family- a true American story. Yet the history will always be labeled as a minority history- how do we overcome these obstacles? Is recording the history enough?
While I am exploring these questions as this project develops in the next few months, I want to find other panelists that have also struggled in responding to national social movements such as blacklivesmatter or translivesmatter. How do we permanently tell these stories? Why can’t these stories be part of the middle? Does adding these stories to the common narrative help empower the oppress? How can our communities trust us if we only care about the problematic past when it is politically savvy to do so? How can we be proactive and add these histories to the middle instead of labeling them as edgy? Is this the next step for presenting a diverse, inclusive, and intersectional history?
I want to challenge the boundaries between the middle and the edge with this panel. Why does this distinction exist? Does it limit how these histories are presented? Do these boundaries affect how we interact with our communities? Are these boundaries important?
I am looking for panelists who are interested in these questions. Museums and public historians that have responded to community and national crises surrounding race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ableness, and religion would be particularly helpful in developing this panel.
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Constance Mandeville
If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature below.
All feedback, and offers of assistance, should be submitted by July 3, 2016.