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

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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.

Events include:
Thursday, April 10th: Why and How Did the United States Wage War in Vietnam? [On Zoom]
A discussion of the origins and conduct of the American War in Vietnam, focusing on the most significant U.S. decisions and policies.

Tuesday, April 15th: Opposing the American War in Vietnam [On Zoom]
An exploration of how the American war was resisted in Vietnam and in the United States focusing on the revolutionary struggle of the Vietnamese and antiwar movements in both countries.

Thursday, April 17th: Vietnam War Legacies [On Zoom]
This session will examine the war’s long-lasting impact on both Vietnam and the United States, and discuss steps taken toward reconciliation and restorative justice.

Wednesday, April 30th: The Color of Peace [Integrative Learning Center, S140]
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.

This conference is co-sponsored by the Department of History.