Abstract (300 words maximum)
In this project, we aim to explore resilience in a population that is both historically underserved and contributed in an extraordinary manner to their community: World War II Veterans who participated in the Civil Rights Movement. By reviewing memorial cemetery burial records and ancestry records, the research team identified living family members of Veterans who may meet these criteria and reached out to them with information about the study. Data collection is ongoing, but four interviews have been conducted thus far. The interview protocol was adapted from a project called “Profiles of Resilience,” which focused on adversity and resilience among military and first responder families. Preliminary content analyses of conducted interviews revealed that it may not be common for family members to have been told about or remember military stressors, but did report some stressors related to segregation or discrimination or other stressors such as family stressors. Participants reported several resources that promoted resilience, such as a strong connection with their religious community, a positive experience in their civilian job, and strong family relationships and experiences. Next steps in this project will involve continuing to conduct and analyze interviews throughout Spring 2025 and collaboration with KSU Museums Archives and Rare Books to create a traveling museum exhibit in Summer 2025. This project will continue to add to the literature on adversity and resilience in populations who have served their nation and community in extraordinary ways and promote community engagement with state and national memorial cemeteries.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Psychological Science
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Kristin Horan
Additional Faculty
Brian Moore, Psychological Science, bmoore50@kennesaw.edu
Sophie Vincent, AMES Research Center, svince15@kennesaw.edu
Veterans & Visionaries: Georgia's World War II Veterans & the Civil Rights Movement
In this project, we aim to explore resilience in a population that is both historically underserved and contributed in an extraordinary manner to their community: World War II Veterans who participated in the Civil Rights Movement. By reviewing memorial cemetery burial records and ancestry records, the research team identified living family members of Veterans who may meet these criteria and reached out to them with information about the study. Data collection is ongoing, but four interviews have been conducted thus far. The interview protocol was adapted from a project called “Profiles of Resilience,” which focused on adversity and resilience among military and first responder families. Preliminary content analyses of conducted interviews revealed that it may not be common for family members to have been told about or remember military stressors, but did report some stressors related to segregation or discrimination or other stressors such as family stressors. Participants reported several resources that promoted resilience, such as a strong connection with their religious community, a positive experience in their civilian job, and strong family relationships and experiences. Next steps in this project will involve continuing to conduct and analyze interviews throughout Spring 2025 and collaboration with KSU Museums Archives and Rare Books to create a traveling museum exhibit in Summer 2025. This project will continue to add to the literature on adversity and resilience in populations who have served their nation and community in extraordinary ways and promote community engagement with state and national memorial cemeteries.