
Becoming Human Again
An Oral History of the Rwanda Genocide against the Tutsi
Donald E. Miller(Author)
University of California Press
1st Edition
Published on 31. March 2020
Book
Hardback
264 pages
978-0-520-34377-1 (ISBN)
Description
Genocide involves significant death and trauma. Yet the enormous scope of genocide comes into view when one looks at the factors that lead to mass killing, the struggle for survival during genocide, and the ways survivors reconstruct their lives after the violence ends. Over a one hundred day period in 1994, the country of Rwanda saw the genocidal slaughter of at least 800,000 Tutsi at the hands of members of the Hutu majority government. This book is a powerful oral history of the tragedy and its aftermath from the perspective of its survivors.
Based on in-depth interviews conducted over the course of fifteen years, the authors take a holistic approach by tracing how victims experienced the horrific events, as well as how they have coped with the aftermath as they struggled to resume their lives. The Rwanda genocide deserves study and documentation not only because of the failure of the Western world to intervene, but also because it raises profound questions about the ways survivors create a new life out of the ashes of all that was destroyed. How do they deal with the all-encompassing traumas of genocide? Is forgiveness possible? And what does the process of rebuilding teach us about genocide, trauma, and human life?
Based on in-depth interviews conducted over the course of fifteen years, the authors take a holistic approach by tracing how victims experienced the horrific events, as well as how they have coped with the aftermath as they struggled to resume their lives. The Rwanda genocide deserves study and documentation not only because of the failure of the Western world to intervene, but also because it raises profound questions about the ways survivors create a new life out of the ashes of all that was destroyed. How do they deal with the all-encompassing traumas of genocide? Is forgiveness possible? And what does the process of rebuilding teach us about genocide, trauma, and human life?
Reviews / Votes
"The authors offer valuable insights into psychological trauma and its link to loss of identity. . . . Becoming Human Again is not an easy read but it is a worthwhile one; a journey through horror to healing." * New Internationalist *More details
Edition
First Edition, With Lorna Touryan Miller and Arpi Misha Miller
Language
English
Place of publication
Berkerley
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
499 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-520-34377-1 (9780520343771)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
03/2020
1st Edition
Naval Institute Press
€26.49
Available for download

Book
03/2020
1st Edition
University of California Press
€28.52
Article not available at the moment
Persons
Donald E. Miller is the Leonard K. Firestone Professor of Religion at the University of Southern California and Director of Strategic Initiatives at USC's Center for Religion and Civic Culture. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of ten books, including Global Pentecostalism: The New Face of Christian Social Engagement and Reinventing American Protestantism: Christianity in the New Millennium.
Lorna Touryan Miller is coauthor with Donald Miller of Survivors: An Oral History of the Armenian Genocide and Armenia: Portraits of Survival and Hope. She is former director of the Office for Creative Connections in Pasadena, California.
Arpi Misha Miller completed her doctoral dissertation in Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she focused on the transnational political activism of Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles. Currently she is involved in immigrant rights issues in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Lorna Touryan Miller is coauthor with Donald Miller of Survivors: An Oral History of the Armenian Genocide and Armenia: Portraits of Survival and Hope. She is former director of the Office for Creative Connections in Pasadena, California.
Arpi Misha Miller completed her doctoral dissertation in Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she focused on the transnational political activism of Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles. Currently she is involved in immigrant rights issues in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgments
PART I: The Genocide
1. Encountering the Genocide
2. How Did It Happen?
3. Orphan Memories
4. The Experience of Women
5. Coping after Genocide
PART II: Postgenocide Experiences
6. Trauma as Moral Rupture
7. A Holistic Model of Healing
8. Forgiveness
9. Justice and Reconciliation
10. Becoming Human Again
Appendix I: Methodology
Appendix II: Survey Results on Distress and Resilience
Beth E. Meyerowitz and Lauren C. Ng
Notes
References and Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
PART I: The Genocide
1. Encountering the Genocide
2. How Did It Happen?
3. Orphan Memories
4. The Experience of Women
5. Coping after Genocide
PART II: Postgenocide Experiences
6. Trauma as Moral Rupture
7. A Holistic Model of Healing
8. Forgiveness
9. Justice and Reconciliation
10. Becoming Human Again
Appendix I: Methodology
Appendix II: Survey Results on Distress and Resilience
Beth E. Meyerowitz and Lauren C. Ng
Notes
References and Bibliography
Index