I’m Diamond Johnny, a scholar and practitioner focused on collective memory, historical trauma, and transitional justice in post-conflict societies—especially within Latin America. My work centers on the emotional and cultural processes communities use to confront and remember violent pasts. I’m particularly drawn to how rituals, silence, and social sharing shape the recovery of identity and agency after state violence and genocide.

Much of my research has been inspired by the experiences of Indigenous communities in Guatemala, where I’ve examined how Mayan populations process loss, cope with grief, and reclaim memory in ways that challenge dominant historical narratives. I study the interplay between silence as a survival mechanism and commemoration as a form of resistance. For me, memory isn’t just about preserving the past—it’s about restoring dignity, demanding justice, and rebuilding collective bonds.