Survivors of Genocide

The basic foundation of our work at 3 Generations is for victims of genocide to share their stories through film, not only as a form of healing and empowerment, but to educate subsequent generations and raise awareness around the world. However, a survey that was released recently has horrified us: it found that 49% of millennials cannot name a single camp or ghetto in the Holocaust and more than half of Americans believe something like this could happen again, among other terrifying statistics. We are disturbed to see that genocide is receding from memory.

This is an extremely personal finding for us here at 3 Generations. Even more so, the current events show that more and more minority populations are continuing to be treated like second class citizens and as scapegoats - something eerily familiar. Most news outlets pointed out the very clear comparisons of the images of the separated children held in cages to the Nazi death camps. Unsurprisingly, Holocaust survivors have come forward about the psychological trauma that separation has on children, verifying that is has “lasting damage” that “reverberates to this day”. At 3 Generations, we will never stop pointing out the trends that lead up to atrocities like this, evidenced by the current administration’s rhetoric towards immigrants, African Americans, hispanics, Jews, Native Americans, Muslims, and all minorities alike. It’s up to all of us to educate everyone about how the more we forget about the Holocaust, the easier it is to get to the point of genocide.

We must stay vigilant in our fight against human rights abuses and crimes against humanity. If we take away only one lesson from these horrendous moments in history, it’s that these atrocities can be avoided entirely.

Hear the testimonies of survivors of genocide. It is not only a means to honor those who have died, but, through storytelling, it raises awareness and helps to combat future genocides all over the world.

Links:

• Survey