Berks faculty member publishes book on history of Rwandan identity, trauma

READING, Pa. What is a myth.. legend, fairy tale, parable, folklore, imagination or pure fiction? It could be all of those things and it somehow sounds mystical and even exciting. But myths can have another darker, more dangerous and life altering side: They can engender falsehoods, idealized conceptions that are fallacies. Whichever concept you choose to accept, myths can change history, transform a culture, and impact those living in that society. Such is the case with Rwanda, according to Randall Fegley, as outlined in his new book, "A History of Rwandan Identity and Trauma: The Mythmakers' Victims" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016). "Trauma is often associated with history defining events," according to Fegley, associate professor of history and politics at Penn State Berks.