An apology for slavery doesn't quite cut it
James Clingman/NNPA Columnist
Issue date: 7/12/09 Section: Divine Intervention
Blackonomics
Are Black folks special or what? The U.S. Senate, and maybe soon to be followed by the U.S. House of Representatives, issued an apology for the enslavement of Black people in this country.
How cool is that? After a couple of centuries of being enslaved and 145 years after we were so-called "freed," we finally get a formal apology. Despite Congressman Thaddeus Stevens' 1867 resolution for reparations to Africans in America, we have finally reached the pinnacle of respect: An apology.
The timing of this apology is obviously suspect. It comes at a time in our history when we are constantly being made to believe that everything is fair now, that relationships between the races have reached the ideal point of "equality," and Black people have nothing more to complain about when it comes to our progress in this nation. After all, we have Black president.
In my opinion, apologies are highly overrated, especially those given to Black people for slavery. Here's why: Jews got apologies and reparations. Japanese got apologies and reparations. Native Americans got apologies and reparations. And now, Filipino veterans are scheduled to get "reparations" from the Stimulus Package to the tune of $15,000 for residents of the U.S. and $9,000 for non-residents.
Want a parallel? Check this out: Speaking on behalf of the stimulus for Filipino soldiers, Senator Daniel Inouye said, "It's a matter of honor and the good name of the United States." He noted that in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt promised the benefits, but Congress reneged on the pledge in 1946.
That sounds similar to General William Sherman's field orders that called for 40 acres of land to be given to formerly enslaved Africans, which was revoked by President Andrew Johnson. That was in 1865.
Want a more recent example? In 1921, after the destruction of Black Wall Street in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Okla., the president of the local Chamber of Commerce released a statement to the press that contained the following:
Are Black folks special or what? The U.S. Senate, and maybe soon to be followed by the U.S. House of Representatives, issued an apology for the enslavement of Black people in this country.
How cool is that? After a couple of centuries of being enslaved and 145 years after we were so-called "freed," we finally get a formal apology. Despite Congressman Thaddeus Stevens' 1867 resolution for reparations to Africans in America, we have finally reached the pinnacle of respect: An apology.
The timing of this apology is obviously suspect. It comes at a time in our history when we are constantly being made to believe that everything is fair now, that relationships between the races have reached the ideal point of "equality," and Black people have nothing more to complain about when it comes to our progress in this nation. After all, we have Black president.
In my opinion, apologies are highly overrated, especially those given to Black people for slavery. Here's why: Jews got apologies and reparations. Japanese got apologies and reparations. Native Americans got apologies and reparations. And now, Filipino veterans are scheduled to get "reparations" from the Stimulus Package to the tune of $15,000 for residents of the U.S. and $9,000 for non-residents.
Want a parallel? Check this out: Speaking on behalf of the stimulus for Filipino soldiers, Senator Daniel Inouye said, "It's a matter of honor and the good name of the United States." He noted that in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt promised the benefits, but Congress reneged on the pledge in 1946.
That sounds similar to General William Sherman's field orders that called for 40 acres of land to be given to formerly enslaved Africans, which was revoked by President Andrew Johnson. That was in 1865.
Want a more recent example? In 1921, after the destruction of Black Wall Street in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Okla., the president of the local Chamber of Commerce released a statement to the press that contained the following:
Be the first to comment on this story