In David W. Blight’s “Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory” , it reminds Americans to forever remember how the Civil War had begun and the lasting effects that derives from the war.  We had always thought that slavery was a main part of the Civil War but Blight reveals to us that there was a lot more going on.  The society had been segregated and with the 1913 Gettysburg reunion which was attended by 53,000 all white veterans and also with the film “Birth of a Nation” to glorify the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacy, we can’t help but always be reminded that segregation will always be around.  The book captivates my interest with its ability to constantly remind me to never forget the events that occurred during the time of the Civil War.

“Race and Reunion” tells us and Eric Foner that it matters very much how we remember the Civil War.  Foner was well persuaded from the book that the reconciliationist vision of the war is deep within the minds of most Americans .  Historical memory is important but so is ensuring that the memory is of what had actually occurred and not just the imaginations of certain individuals.