The Color of Peace: 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War's End

Reckoning and Reconciliation: A Conference on the Vietnam War and its Legacies

This capstone event is a reading and lecture by the acclaimed Vietnamese poet and novelist, Dr. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai.

Dr. Quế Mai will read some poems from her forthcoming book, The Color of Peace. She will share her family’s personal experiences during the war, and discuss the ongoing impact of the war on the Vietnamese community. She will include reflections on Agent Orange, unexploded ordinance, the search for missing family members, and the experience of mixed-race children. Dr. Quế Mai’s work in promoting reconciliation between Vietnam and the United States through literature will also be featured.

About the Conference: 

The Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy is thrilled to host its second annual Ellsberg Conference. This year, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end, the conference will consist of four events that explore crucial questions about the war’s causes, conduct, and consequences. The webinars include scholars from nine universities in the U.S. and Vietnam, NGO directors in both countries, journalists, and activists. The capstone event is a public reading and lecture at UMass by the renowned Vietnamese poet and novelist Dr. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, a renowned Vietnamese poet and author. 

More information and register on the Ellsberg Initiative website.

This event is co-sponsored by the Department of History. Read our co-sponsorship statement here.