Honoring the call to “Never Forget”

Summary: A new More in Common study finds that 9/11 remains a significant event for many Americans. While national narratives of patriotism and unity resonate with diverse groups, perceptions of 9/11 are also deeply personal, shaped by age, political ideology, religious affiliation and proximity to the attacks. Our findings illuminate a need for more nuanced and complex narratives in our commitment to “Never Forget”.

This Sunday marks the 21st anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Anniversaries are a powerful moment to commemorate the past and to remember or learn about history. Today, more than a generation removed from the attacks, how do we honor our commitment to “Never Forget”?

Many Americans remember the post-9/11 era as a time of national unity as well as a period of fear.

Seven in 10 Americans associated the period with Americans being united, and more than 8 in 10 Americans thought that fear of terrorism and heightened security measures defined the period.

“This event was tragic, but Americans banded together and supported one another. It was a great time of unity and support.”

💬 Nolan, Age 25-34, White male, Moderate, Oklahoma

“America came together after 9/11. We should embrace that feeling and still come together today. The United States is so against each other.”

💬 Marguerite, Age 45-54, Hispanic female, Traditional Conservative, Texas

At the same time, narratives of unity and patriotism don’t fully capture the post-9/11 memories and experiences of all Americans.

New Yorkers remember the nation as strong and resilient in the aftermath of 9/11, placing particular emphasis on the resilience of their city.

Many Muslim Americans characterized the post-9/11 period as “Islamophobic” and are very likely to associate that period with mistreatment of their community. At the same time, 7 in 10 Muslim Americans reported that they are proud to be American and feel accepted in US society.  

Gen Z and Millennials are much less likely than older generations to describe the post-9/11 nation as patriotic and united and are less likely to say that the attacks changed their lives.

In our polarized time, narratives of pride and national unity are critically needed to help strengthen our commitment to democratic goals. The anniversary of 9/11 provides an opportunity to highlight shared American values and remind Americans that there is nothing we can’t overcome. At the same time, it is a moment to reflect on who feels excluded from national narratives and address the reasons why.

9/11 remains a significant event for many Americans; it was both a shared national tragedy and a profoundly personal experience. However, in 2022, approximately one in four Americans were born after 9/11. As such, the meaning of 9/11 will be shaped more by what we teach than what we remember from personal experience. As September 11th fades into our collective memory and is recorded into history, we need to hold space for more complex narratives and lift up stories about how this tragedy impacted us as individuals, groups, and as a country.

Recommendations

👉 Our research found that 6 in 10 Muslim Americans believe that Muslims face a “fair amount” of prejudice in America today; less than half of Americans agree. Read the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding’s new report, American Muslim Poll 2022, for insight into the diverse experiences and perspectives of Muslim Americans.

👉 The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is committed to honoring the legacy of those affected by the September 11 attacks and educating the public on the impact and continued significance of the tragedy. Listen to their recorded interviews with responders, survivors, and surviving family members.

👉 9/11 is a federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. Check out 911day.org for a list of ideas and resources to volunteer in your community.

📊 Read our full report on Remembering the Post-9/11 America here.

📝 Read NBC’s coverage of our report here.

^{All statistics in this newsletter are from online survey interviews with N=1,000 adult US citizens and additional over-samples of N=200 Muslim Americans and N=200 New York City residents from August 12-24, 2022, conducted with our partner YouGov.}

^{All quotes are from data collected between March and April, 2022, from our online research community of 290 representative Americans. Names have been changed to protect privacy.}