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Ms. Bowles
US
Posts: 84

Questions to Consider:


How does generational trauma impact the children of Holocaust survivors, like Spiegelman? How does the weight of the trauma experienced by direct ancestors as well as communities as a whole play into the lives of young people today? Is it possible to move beyond generational trauma, or is it better to live with and acknowledge it? (Please note you can also discuss generational trauma from other wars, conflicts or genocides in addition to what you notice in Maus).


Word Count Requirement: 350-500 words



Sources to Reference:


Please refer to the ideas, either using a description, quote or paraphrasing, from Maus I or II in addition to the other source listed here in your response.


Maus I (Spiegelman,1986)


Maus II (Spiegelman,1991)


Intergenerational transmission of trauma in Spiegelman's Maus (Stanislav, 2013)




Rubric to Review: LTQ Rubric
josh allen
Boston, MA, US
Posts: 13

Generational trauma is something that, I’m sure, the children of Holocaust survivors will never be without. The idea that one’s direct relatives have endured and survived something so remarkably atrocious is jarring, intense, and often just really, really sad. In Maus, Artie tries to distance himself from his father. He seems to want to find a way to escape the trauma that has permeated his life ever since his childhood. His mother’s suicide, the constant presence of his late brother, and his father’s extreme personality and expectations are all products of the Holocaust by some means. Artie, understandably, is looking for another life than all of this. He marries and begins a career. However, clearly, he is drawn back by this immense force of generational trauma. He is so drawn back that he even writes a book about it. He wants to distance himself from his father, but is so impacted by the trauma that the only meaningful connections that he has with Vladek are all centered around the Holocaust. Artie, to put it simply, just like many other children of survivors, cannot escape. Stanislav’s analysis of generational trauma in Maus corroborates this. He states that “Art’s ‘inheritance’ of his parents’ trauma leads to his obsession with the Holocaust, although he is at pains to deny that it is an obsession" (232). Artie’s obsession and other feelings that arise from this are visible in Maus. Maus II even includes a conversation between Artie and his therapist, in which Artie states that “no matter what [he] accomplishes[es], it doesn’t seem like much compared to surviving Auschwitz” (44). Artie can’t even give himself any credit because of how the Holocaust has impacted his life. It is a constant, ever-varied presence in his mind, and it seems impossible to move past it.

By extension, due to the difficulty in moving on from generational trauma, I believe that it is essential to acknowledge it in one’s life. My relatives are not Holocaust survivors, but they are Jewish. I believe that the Holocaust story is a part of my people’s history, and I do feel something when we talk about it. Not trauma, but more of a mutual sadness and solidarity. This feeling is something I can’t just move past. I expect it is even more so for the descendants of Holocaust survivors. If we do not remember the past, we are condemned to repeat it. If we move on from the past without acknowledgement, I fear that history will repeat itself and those experiencing generational trauma will never find a way to heal themselves.


user0702
Boston, MA, US
Posts: 15

Specifically in Maus we see how the Holocaust has impacted both Art and Vladek in different ways. Art is very much aware that he did not experience the Holocaust but it is still very much present in his mind. He lost his brother because of it and constantly seeks a sense of approval from his parents because he will never be able to be who his deceased brother was. His parents lost so much during the Holocaust and that impacted them and in turn how they raised Art. Art also explains how he almost wishes that he experienced the Holocaust with his family, simply so he could understand their trauma on a deeper level. There is also another very powerful image in Maus where Art is depicted as sitting on a hill of countless dead Jewish people. He expresses through this image the almost physical burden he feels to do his fathers story justice. Additionally, Spiegelam used many different tactics to separate himself from the past and acknowledge that it did not directly happen to him. One example of this discrimination is the fact that he used animals and not people. The only time he used people was when he was telling the story about his mothers death, which he directly experienced (Stanislav 229). There are so many inevitable divides that Art feels with his father, representing how generational trauma harms relationships. Vladek's tendencies seemed to greatly upset Art and cause a strong rife in their relationship. It was hard for Art to understand first hand why Vladek behaved the way that he did but it begs the question if Art survived the Holocaust with him would their relationship be different. The tension throughout their relationship is rooted in Vladek's trauma and so is consequently passed down to Art. Art will never be able to fully understand his fathers experience and this creates a rift and resentment toward the father. Not only does Art feel distant from his father he also blames his father for his mothers death. Art and Vladek have very different experiences with Anja but both are impacted by the Holocaust. Art's view of himself as a son in comparison to Richie and his relationship with his parents is all negatively influenced by the generational trauma within his family. For Art it is extremely difficult to move past generational trauma as he has made it his purpose to properly tell his fathers story although he never experienced it himself. His relationship with his father will always be tainted and have the overarching presence of the Holocaust’s trauma looming over them. Art is working to move past the trauma he is experiencing by telling his fathers story. It is a difficult concept to navigate as each experience for each individual is different. Therefore, Art and Vladek’s relationship is an example of how devastating generational trauma can be passed down and appear differently in each generation.

user0702
Boston, MA, US
Posts: 15

Originally posted by josh allen on January 31, 2026 19:32

Generational trauma is something that, I’m sure, the children of Holocaust survivors will never be without. The idea that one’s direct relatives have endured and survived something so remarkably atrocious is jarring, intense, and often just really, really sad. In Maus, Artie tries to distance himself from his father. He seems to want to find a way to escape the trauma that has permeated his life ever since his childhood. His mother’s suicide, the constant presence of his late brother, and his father’s extreme personality and expectations are all products of the Holocaust by some means. Artie, understandably, is looking for another life than all of this. He marries and begins a career. However, clearly, he is drawn back by this immense force of generational trauma. He is so drawn back that he even writes a book about it. He wants to distance himself from his father, but is so impacted by the trauma that the only meaningful connections that he has with Vladek are all centered around the Holocaust. Artie, to put it simply, just like many other children of survivors, cannot escape. Stanislav’s analysis of generational trauma in Maus corroborates this. He states that “Art’s ‘inheritance’ of his parents’ trauma leads to his obsession with the Holocaust, although he is at pains to deny that it is an obsession" (232). Artie’s obsession and other feelings that arise from this are visible in Maus. Maus II even includes a conversation between Artie and his therapist, in which Artie states that “no matter what [he] accomplishes[es], it doesn’t seem like much compared to surviving Auschwitz” (44). Artie can’t even give himself any credit because of how the Holocaust has impacted his life. It is a constant, ever-varied presence in his mind, and it seems impossible to move past it.

By extension, due to the difficulty in moving on from generational trauma, I believe that it is essential to acknowledge it in one’s life. My relatives are not Holocaust survivors, but they are Jewish. I believe that the Holocaust story is a part of my people’s history, and I do feel something when we talk about it. Not trauma, but more of a mutual sadness and solidarity. This feeling is something I can’t just move past. I expect it is even more so for the descendants of Holocaust survivors. If we do not remember the past, we are condemned to repeat it. If we move on from the past without acknowledgement, I fear that history will repeat itself and those experiencing generational trauma will never find a way to heal themselves.

I agree that Artie struggles to find a balance between feeling and understanding what his family went through while also creating his own life, away from the Holocaust. The experience that his family had in the Holocaust shapes how he views his brother, his relationship with his parents, his attitudes toward his fathers ways and his reaction to his mothers death. His father struggles with moving on from the Holocaust and the loss of his wife which all inevitably impacts Artie. Artie states that sometimes he wishes he was with his family during that time so he could understand and sympathize with them. He is very much aware of what his family went through and since he loves them so much, that also hurts him. He wants to acknowledge in his own way what happened and even tries to share his fathers experience through his book. He is also not giving himself credit for the story in any way; he is simply trying to identify more with his father and relate to him on a deeper level. All of the conflict Artie experiences with his father is rooted in his fathers trauma from the Holocaust. Since their relationship is so deeply impacted it will also traumatize Artie. He is not able to share in his fathers experience or connect with him on the level that he wants to.

josh allen
Boston, MA, US
Posts: 13

Originally posted by user0702 on February 01, 2026 13:14

Specifically in Maus we see how the Holocaust has impacted both Art and Vladek in different ways. Art is very much aware that he did not experience the Holocaust but it is still very much present in his mind. He lost his brother because of it and constantly seeks a sense of approval from his parents because he will never be able to be who his deceased brother was. His parents lost so much during the Holocaust and that impacted them and in turn how they raised Art. Art also explains how he almost wishes that he experienced the Holocaust with his family, simply so he could understand their trauma on a deeper level. There is also another very powerful image in Maus where Art is depicted as sitting on a hill of countless dead Jewish people. He expresses through this image the almost physical burden he feels to do his fathers story justice. Additionally, Spiegelam used many different tactics to separate himself from the past and acknowledge that it did not directly happen to him. One example of this discrimination is the fact that he used animals and not people. The only time he used people was when he was telling the story about his mothers death, which he directly experienced (Stanislav 229). There are so many inevitable divides that Art feels with his father, representing how generational trauma harms relationships. Vladek's tendencies seemed to greatly upset Art and cause a strong rife in their relationship. It was hard for Art to understand first hand why Vladek behaved the way that he did but it begs the question if Art survived the Holocaust with him would their relationship be different. The tension throughout their relationship is rooted in Vladek's trauma and so is consequently passed down to Art. Art will never be able to fully understand his fathers experience and this creates a rift and resentment toward the father. Not only does Art feel distant from his father he also blames his father for his mothers death. Art and Vladek have very different experiences with Anja but both are impacted by the Holocaust. Art's view of himself as a son in comparison to Richie and his relationship with his parents is all negatively influenced by the generational trauma within his family. For Art it is extremely difficult to move past generational trauma as he has made it his purpose to properly tell his fathers story although he never experienced it himself. His relationship with his father will always be tainted and have the overarching presence of the Holocaust’s trauma looming over them. Art is working to move past the trauma he is experiencing by telling his fathers story. It is a difficult concept to navigate as each experience for each individual is different. Therefore, Art and Vladek’s relationship is an example of how devastating generational trauma can be passed down and appear differently in each generation.

One of the most compelling arguments in this argument was that Art tried to distance himself from the Holocaust in many ways, emphasizing how generational trauma has impacted him. I like your note that he did this through using animals instead of humans, though I think you could have elaborated upon this more. To me, using animals instead of humans allows Art to remove himself from the true story and not have to draw these atrocities occurring to his own blood, but merely to a group of Jews, or mice. I also like your argument that Art cannot move past generational trauma because he has made it his purpose to tell his father’s story. He is stuck in this cycle of having to explain what happened and try to figure it out, even though he never experienced it himself. This would definitely contribute to lasting trauma in Artie’s life. I think you contradict yourself with this argument, however, when you said that Artie is trying to address this trauma by writing the story. I think you could have explained a little bit more how Artie is both perpetuating and mitigating the generational trauma of the Holocaust by writing this novel, and perhaps including some more quotes or paraphrasing the book a bit more. I think this could be a really interesting argument. Overall nice job.

Citydog18
Boston, MA, US
Posts: 10
Generational trauma plays a huge role in the lives of children of Holocaust survivors, including Spiegelman in Maus. Even though Art never experienced the holocaust himself the past of what hi parents went through are always present in his life. His father, Vladek, survived extreme suffering, and that trauma didn’t disappear when the war was over. Instead it shaped how he lived and how he treated others, and how he raised his son. Vladek isoften anxious, cojntrolling, and obsessed with saving money, which frustrated Art. While these characteristics and behaviors make sense because of what VLadek survived, they still hurt their relationship together. This shows how trauma can be passed down, even to people who werent able to experience it. The burden of trauma carried by ancestors and entire communities also effects young people today. Many children grow up surrounded by stories of loss, fear, or survival from past war, and genocides. Even when these stories arent talked about or brung up the trauma can still be felt through silence, tension, or distance in families. Art struggles with guilt because he feels his problems are small compared to what his parents went through. The guilt is common for children of survivors, who feel pressure to be grateful, strong, or successful at all times. As a result of this they struggle with their identity or feel disconnected from their history. Generational trauma isnt limited to the holocaust it can also be seen in families affected by events like the vietnam war which my family went through. When a whole community experiences violence the emotional effects dont disappear in one generation. The young people may inherit fear, anxiety or distrust, even if they grow up in safer conditions. This shows how trauma can last long after the original events are over. It may not be realistic to completely move beyond generational trauma, but acknowledging it is an important step towards healing. Art chooses to face his family’s past by telling his father’s story, even when it is uncomfortable. By recognizing the trauma by telling his fattherr’s story, even when it is uncomfortable. By acknowledging the trauma instead of ignoring it, he begins to understand both his father and himself better. Living with and recognizing generationa
user9348665472
Charlestown, Massachusetts, US
Posts: 8

There are many factors that lead to generational trauma when it comes to those who are children or grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. These are mentioned various times in the book Maus as well as the presentation given by Dr. Stern. In Maus, Valdek’s child Artie feels distant from him as they don’t talk about their feelings with each other often. He tends to yell at Artie a lot which can be a reflection on how Valdek was treated as a child and this can cause a toll on Art’s mental health. An example of this is when Vladek gets mad at Art for using a wooden match instead of a lighter and this can show that the habit of scarcity is still with him. There is also a point in the book where Valdek burns his wife's diaries after she passes and Art gets very upset by this saying that he is "burning away his mother’s side of the story.” In the text “Intergenerational transmission of trauma in Spiegelman's Maus” it states that family is the most common connection for inheriting trauma through ancestors which explains the relationship between father and son. Art is also known to have feelings of incompetence and guilt which can be directly rooted to his fathers behavior as well as his brother Richieu. Vladek’s traumatic experiences in Auschwitz lead him to have certain characteristics that make him unrecognizable to his family at some points as he still carries some habits with him to this day and this can lead to confusion of the time that he lives in and can make him forget the fact that he is “safe” even when he doesn’t feel like he is. In the presentation given by Dr. Stern, examples like this are also mentioned. He touches upon the fact that it was hard for him growing up as when he was younger, his parents weren’t able to tell him every detail of his fathers trauma as he may not understand it all yet. As he got older, Stern started looking for answers and found his dad’s story through letters and other things that he was a part of during this period. By connecting the book Maus to a story told by a survivor's child, I have learned that generational trauma is a real thing and is connected through certain behavior and biology.

NLE CHOPPA
Boston, MA, US
Posts: 10

LTQ Post 7: Generational Trauma in Maus

LTQ Post 7: Generational Trauma in Maus


Generational trauma was one of the most important takeaways in the book Maus. How could someone not have problems after what their parents have gone through? There are many instances where Art feels some guilt, similar to survivors' guilt. He mentions many times that he feels bad that he didn't experience it.


In Maus 1, Vladek’s behaviors, saving money, controlling situations, not trusting others, are all because of Auschwitz. They affect Art’s relationship with him, and Art feels distant from his father. In Maus 2, Art has more guilt when he depicts himself as smaller and powerless. The Trauma becomes carried by Art, even though he didn't experience it.


Stanislav’s analysis of generational trauma explains that trauma is transmitted through family dynamics, storytelling, and unsolved grief. Art also inherited the emotional silence left by his mother. Stanislav argues that children of survivors often feel responsible for preserving memory, which Art does by creating Maus.


Another important way generational trauma appears in Maus is through communication between parents and children. Vladek tells the story in little parts, showing survival and not much emotion, leaving art not knowing his father's full pain. Trauma can disrupt relationships. When stories are shared, the emotional weight is difficult to express, resulting in confusion and guilt.


Art also experiences generational trauma through the responsibility he feels to represent his parents suffering accurately. In Maus 2, Art suggests his identity is shaped by events he didn't live through. This shows how the past defines his present, fearing he will never understand his parents' pain. Art carries the burden of memory, rather than direct experience.


Descendants of people impacted by slavery, genocide, or war inherit fear. Maus says that it may not be possible to fully move on from Generational Trauma, but not possible to lie with and acknowledge it. Art tells his story instead of being quiet.



As Stanislav said, acknowledging trauma is essential for preventing silence and emotional isolation. To conclude, Maus argues that recognizing generational trauma allows younger generations to carry history with awareness rather than being consumed by it.
Barbsy
Boston, ma, US
Posts: 9
Generational trauma impacts countless people. Specifically, Holocaust survivors have been especially affected by generational trauma. For instance, due to many survivors losing their childhoods to the war, they are unable to replicate a childhood for their children and the next generation, which negatively impacts them. In addition to this, the trauma experienced by survivors completely alters their thought processes, making them constantly on edge and irritable. Both of Arti’s parents are prime examples of this effect in Maus. Anja is unable to return to a stable state of mind after the war, she is constantly plagued with depression and powerlessness which results in her eventual suicide. Alternatively, Arti’s father becomes very distrusting of others and selfish. This can be seen in his open racism towards black people, such as the hitch hiker, or even his hiding of assets and refusal to give his wife Mala any money. He no longer trusts anyone and believes everyone is out to get him. Growing up with unstable parents such as these, makes it hard for children of Holocaust survivors to have a normal childhood. They will forever be changed by the twisted natures of their parents and stained by their unique childhood experiences. This causes them to change as individuals as well, and perhaps even affect future generations. While I believe that it is possible to move beyond generational trauma, I think there is a better way of going about things. Generational trauma will eventually go away as time goes on and next generations actively break the cycle, however, I believe that we should put resources and effort into solving generational trauma in the moment so that it affects the least amount of people possible. This may include providing assistance to those involved in the event, as well as psychological testing and counseling so that their psyche can be understood and improved. If we as a society are able to provide such assistance to Holocaust survivors, we may be able to help them enough so that they will not cause a lasting impression on future generations. Ultimately, ending generational trauma as a whole and ensuring a better future for everyone.
CapeCod2343
East Boston, MA, US
Posts: 9
Generational trauma impacts the children of Holocaust survivors like Spiegelman by passing down the need to have and need everything to be clean due to the uncleanliness conditions of the camps; they also deal with the unstable mental state of their parents, which can appear in many forms like detachment, depression, anxiety, and rage. For example, Vladek struggled with the need to keep everything clean and organized whenever Art and Vladek's wife would make a mess by accident, Vladek would get enraged and yell at both of them. Many of the survivors left the camp with extreme trauma that completely altered their personalities. This is seen by Art’s father at the beginning of the book. We see that Vladek was free and happy, but when he was captured, thrown in the camps, and when his firstborn died, he changed completely. The weight of the trauma experienced by direct ancestors as well as communities as a whole plays into the lives of young people today as they strive for justice and accountability by countries that were involved with the Holocaust in search of justice that they couldn't get when many Nazis, like Hitler, killed themselves and or burned a lot of the evidence that could incriminate them. They are also very aware of any injustices that are happening in the world and they are very inclined into speaking out against it, for example I have seen multiple Holocaust survivors and its communities speaking out against the current actions of the current presidential administration and spoke out that is what started the Holocaust and why there should be actions done to prevent another attempt of extreme hate towards an ethnic group. I believe it is possible to move beyond generational trauma because much of the trauma that was passed on is hurtful and damaging, which pushes the next generation the need to end the cycle of trauma, because at some point, one has to move on, but in moving on, one can't forget what happened. Vladek never moves on from the Holocaust, which is understandable because it is hard to get them to move on from that extreme trauma, but this leaves them only moving on when death liberates them from the chains of trauma.
user9348665472
Charlestown, Massachusetts, US
Posts: 8

Originally posted by NLE CHOPPA on February 02, 2026 20:07

LTQ Post 7: Generational Trauma in Maus


Generational trauma was one of the most important takeaways in the book Maus. How could someone not have problems after what their parents have gone through? There are many instances where Art feels some guilt, similar to survivors' guilt. He mentions many times that he feels bad that he didn't experience it.


In Maus 1, Vladek’s behaviors, saving money, controlling situations, not trusting others, are all because of Auschwitz. They affect Art’s relationship with him, and Art feels distant from his father. In Maus 2, Art has more guilt when he depicts himself as smaller and powerless. The Trauma becomes carried by Art, even though he didn't experience it.


Stanislav’s analysis of generational trauma explains that trauma is transmitted through family dynamics, storytelling, and unsolved grief. Art also inherited the emotional silence left by his mother. Stanislav argues that children of survivors often feel responsible for preserving memory, which Art does by creating Maus.


Another important way generational trauma appears in Maus is through communication between parents and children. Vladek tells the story in little parts, showing survival and not much emotion, leaving art not knowing his father's full pain. Trauma can disrupt relationships. When stories are shared, the emotional weight is difficult to express, resulting in confusion and guilt.


Art also experiences generational trauma through the responsibility he feels to represent his parents suffering accurately. In Maus 2, Art suggests his identity is shaped by events he didn't live through. This shows how the past defines his present, fearing he will never understand his parents' pain. Art carries the burden of memory, rather than direct experience.


Descendants of people impacted by slavery, genocide, or war inherit fear. Maus says that it may not be possible to fully move on from Generational Trauma, but not possible to lie with and acknowledge it. Art tells his story instead of being quiet.



As Stanislav said, acknowledging trauma is essential for preventing silence and emotional isolation. To conclude, Maus argues that recognizing generational trauma allows younger generations to carry history with awareness rather than being consumed by it.



I like the many examples used in this where it shows how generational trauma is one of the main ideas in the book. Throughout the story, the connection between Art and his father change where in book I, Art is often angry at his fathers habits that he still carries with him from the concentration camps and in book II, he realizes that this is just the way Vladek is, and starts to feel guilty so good job making these points. I also pointed out how when Art got older, he learned to live with his fathers struggles as well as the fact that it is important Art spoke up about him and Vladek's relationship and how him being his father affects his own mental health and I feel it is really important for him to speak up about this matter instead of staying silent because it brings awareness to others who may be going through a similar thing.It was interesting how you also brought up other traumatic experiences that people have gone through like slavery or war which are also examples of generational trauma. Overall, good job in connecting all the different points and ways that generational trauma was talked about throughout the book and how it can affect both the parent and child.

humanrights07
Boston , Massachusetts, US
Posts: 10

For most, your family is part of your identity whether it be large or small and therefore so is their trauma even if you yourself have not lived through what they have lived through. Stanislav in Intergenerational transmission of trauma in Spiegelman's Maus describes how the passing down of these Holocaust stories from parents to child “has formed a significant part of the identity of the children of survivors, and has become one of the crucial constituents of their Jewishness, regardless of the extent of their assimilation.” Children take on many of the qualities of their parents meaning that those who lived through the Holocaust behave in ways that may pass down aspects of life that mark a child's identity. There is no real correct answer to this question of moving beyond generational trauma because when it is ingrained in your identity it is hard to move away from something that is part of you.

Art described how at times he wished he was there with his dad during the Holocaust so that he knew what it was like, almost feeling survivor's guilt. I think it is hard to move past generational trauma especially when you care so much about your family and others, however living with the trauma allows you to share with others and therefore spreading what happened to more people. Dr. Stern is someone who lives with his generational trauma but at the same time talks to others about what his family endured which can be especially impactful. It is inspiring to see someone face what is obviously a difficult topic in the hopes that others will recognize what happened and work to ensure it never happens again.

There are certain aspects from the Holocaust that got filtered down into Vladek's every day routine and therefore became part of Artie's. Vladek cares deeply about finishing all of your food on your plate which stems from when in the Holocaust he had very little food. This shows the passing of a trauma from the Holocaust onto the next generation and how Artie is forced to live with Vladek's traumas, but at the same time he presses for a lot of information almost burdening himself with the weight of the story and pressure to deliver it in an accepting manner. It is unfair to Artie to be burdened with Vladek's story but at the same time it was almost impossible for him to avoid even the smallest of details so in that sense he did not have a choice whether it played a role in his life or not. Neither did Vladek though because he did not ask for any of this to occur nor to purposefully pass on the trauma that he endured.

seltzersareawesome
Boston, Ma, US
Posts: 9

The generational trauma in Maus takes place in the form of a phantom limb which is a pain felt by the children of the Holocaust survivors even though they didn't experience the actual trauma since they weren't alive. In the case of Spiegel man this trauma takes the form of a feeling of guilt and inadequacy. He lives in the shadow of his brother Richieu who did not survive the holocaust and remains a memory in the minds of his parents. Artie feels as though he has no right to his pain because he can't compare it to the pain of Auschwitz. Teenagers nowadays if they come from survivors of any war can have a trauma that could come as a feeling of dislocation. When a community experiences a trauma the stories of the old country become the stories of the new generation. These stories can give a sense of identity but they can also be a burden holding young people to a past they have no control over and forcing them to feel responsible for healing their ancestors by succeeding where they failed.


The question of whether it's possible to move beyond this trauma or if one is doomed to simply live with it is a major theme of Spiegelman’s work. Maus suggests that it is impossible to ever really heal and move back into a state of normal as the trauma has changed the very DNA of the family and the ways of communication. However admitting to the trauma is the first step towards dealing with it. By relating his father's story Artie is not really curing himself of his own demons but is working outside of himself to understand his fathers quirks and cruelties. How does one move beyond trauma?How does one overcome it? For a modern person it's impossible to overcome it. Once can only integrate it into who they are and use it as a source of strength rather than a weakness. Working with and through the burden of history helps young people break the cycle of silence. While you can't remove the scars of your ancestors by talking about them much like artie does through his art you prevent those scars from defining the entirety of your future.
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