ASALH's 111th Annual Conference Opening Plenary

Explore the challenges of interpreting difficult histories in Beyond the Rockets' Red Glare. Free public plenary session. Join ASALH for Beyond the Rockets' Red Glare: The Cost of Interpreting a Painful Past, a thought-provoking plenary session at the 111th Annual Conference. This engaging discussion will examine how institutions, educators, and communities confront and interpret difficult chapters of American history, and the responsibilities that come with preserving and presenting these stories. Moderated by A. Prince Albert III, the session features panelists Jessie Jaynes Diming, Michaela Pavlat, and Lia Nitake, with remarks from Alan Spears of the National Parks Conservation Association. Attendees will gain valuable insights into public history, memory, preservation, and the ongoing work of telling complex historical narratives. Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. EST Norfolk Waterside Marriott | Norfolk, VA Free and open to the public. Learn more about the ASALH Annual Conference and discover how this year's theme, A Century of Black History Commemorations, connects past, present, and future generations.