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Quote by Tony Horwitz

“I later read a survey about Southerners' knowledge of the War; only half of those aged eighteen to twenty-four could name a single battle, and only one in eight knew if they had a Confederate ancestor. This was a long way from the experience of earlier generations, smothered from birth in the thick gravy of Confederate culture and schooled on textbooks that were little more than Old South propaganda. In this sense, ignorance might prove a blessing. Knowing less about the past, kids seemed less attached to it. Maybe the South would finally exorcise its demons by simply forgetting the history that created them. But Alabaman's seemed to have also let go of the more recent and hopeful history embodied in Martin Luther King's famous speech. "I have a dream," he said, of an Alabama where "black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.”

Quote by Tony Horwitz

Work

Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War

In this narrative, the author delves into the lives of ordinary individuals who continue to live with the legacy of the Civil War, examining how the conflict's aftermath shapes contemporary Southern culture and history. more

Author

Tony Horwitz
Tony Horwitz

Tony Horwitz is an American journalist and author renowned for his travel writing and historical narratives. Born on June 9, 1958, he has penned several books that merge travelogues with historical research, examining various facets of American history and culture. His writings frequently intertwine personal anecdotes with thorough historical analysis, offering readers a compelling blend of historical insights and cultural commentary. more

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