A smirk spread across my face when I watched CNN's Wolf Blitzer give the "Breaking News" this week that the U.S. Senate issued a formal apology to African Americans for Slavery and the era of Jim Crow.
It is obvious the election of President Obama helped to usher that through. However, what does it really mean? I guess we can all feel relieved there is an official acknowledgment that something terrible was done to black people. Yet the reality is way too much time has passed for this apology to really mean anything.
Symbolic gestures like these are most efficacious when public diplomacy is at stake. For example in 1988 the U.S. Congress voted overwhelmingly to formally apologize to Japanese Americans who were driven from their homes in World War II to internment camps in California. Former and late President Ronald Reagan signed the legislation ending this "Civil Rights Disaster" by also giving each of the 60,000 Japanese Americans who survived these camps $20,000.
The $1.2 billion dollars gave Japanese Americans and the Japanese in Japan a "collective sigh of relief," due to the 46-years of pain and shame they suffered. This act helped to strengthen diplomatic ties with Japan. It also gave Japanese Americans a legitimate place in American history; they finally belonged. Japanese Americans felt the U.S. apology was sincere.
Germany, after WWII, not only apologized for its evil acts of the past against Jews and other victims, they also paid over € 63-billion in reparations for a myriad crimes, murders and human rights abuses. Millions more continue to be paid to Jews in Israel and in Eastern Europe.
As a reminder of Germany's dreadful past and also so the country won't repeat its sins ever again, the German government commemorates the Holocaust. Recently, German Chancellor Andrea Merkel with President Obama and Noble Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel placed white roses at the concentration and extermination camp of Buchenwald.
If African Americans think for one second they are getting any money, they better think again. No money is coming; not even the 40-acres and a mule.
Sixteen years ago, Congress apologized for the "grave injustice" of overthrowing the Kingdom of Hawaii a century earlier, but they did not get any money.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs gave an apology to Native Americans in 2005. However, Native Americans are still awaiting for their formal apology from Congress for the American genocide their ancestors experienced.Their resolution, introduced again on April 30 in both chambers, aims "to acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding Indian tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples on behalf of the United States." There ain't any money attached to this one either.
Based upon their resolution, Native Americans want some additional wording in there that acknowledges the treatment and hardship they are experiencing right now. Now you know why their resolution has not passed yet -- that's way too much because that could lead to money and the American government does not have it to give. It's called recession!
Perhaps one should look at the slavery apology as an opportunity for all Americans to finally close a painful chapter in history, but it does not do that. A white supremacist came to the Holocaust Museum two weeks ago to kill Jews and shot a black man. These are the reminders that we too like the Jews can't forget.
Other countries such as Belgium might have apologized in 1961 for its role in the assassination of Congo's first Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba giving a measly $3.5 million for a fund in Lumumba's name to promote Democracy, but that did not stop them from later coming back to play a more heinous role in ignoring the genocide in Rwanda. In 1994, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt publicly apologized to Rwanda for Belgium's part in failing to prevent the 1994 genocide, but it appears no money came or will come. However, he did unveil a memorial for ten peacekeepers that were slaughtered by the Rwandan army.
Apologies are meaningful, when they come with something. I don't begrudge groups that received money for their pain and suffering. They mostly certainly deserve it. In the case of human atrocities of the past, money is probably the only thing that brings about some restitution for the sins in times of yore. There is no way one could put a financial cost on the grief and sacrifice of my ancestors. It would clearly bankrupt the United States of America, all of North America and half of Europe.
Perhaps what African Americans can do with the apology is take pride in knowing that we are the survivors of a great Maafa (Swahili for disaster or terrible occurrence) and despite the current challenges of racism today, we are not victims. We are alive, surviving and thriving -- with the success of so many throughout our history culminating in the first African American President, we are still rising.
Senators, I accept your apology on behalf of America, but I don't need it to be free to achieve the American Dream!
Follow Yvonne R. Davis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Teleos1
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0716/p09s01-coop.html
Slavery was a private enterprise, with little to no actual codification in federal law. By all means, blacks should pursue any company operating today that has historical roots in the slave trade and sue for reparations under the law. They have every right. But why should the American government be called on to correct something that was not a public policy?
Those who engaged in the slave trade are dead. How does one collect from a dead man? The slaves who suffered are dead. How does one pay a dead man? Many of the present US taxpayers did not even have ancestors here when slavery was abolished. Should they pay? How about the descendants of white Union soldiers who were maimed or killed in the Civil War, resulting in the abolishment of slavery. Do their descendants have to pay?
What about the current-day beneficiaries of the slave trade. Who are they? The descendants of African slaves are the principal living beneficiaries of the slave trade. Where would African-Americans be if not for the slavery of their ancestors? Most likely sitting in a mud hut somewhere in Mother Africa. Today's African Americans live a lifestyle which their ancestors could not dream of, because they were born in this country. The descendants of the slaves owe their slave ancestors reparations.
If we insist on reparations, lets talk about reparations for all the black-on-white violence, perpetrated by living African Americans.
What benefits? Name them. Provide the prima facie evidence - of which you DON'T HAVE. Your mud hut analogy is mean spirited and very ignorant since it is quite clear you have not traveled outside of the United States or if you have, you have certainly kept your ignorant opinions to yourself.
Concerning black on white violence, where are your facts here? You don't have any that is true. Black on black violence unfortunately is more prevalent then what you are trying to state. You did not get the point of the piece and if it angered you, then you really missed it.
Everyone who was involved is gone. Personally speaking, my family is descended from Germans who immigrated in the early 1900s. Do you honestly believe that people with no relation to the slave trade in any way should be expected to shoulder that cost? Or deal with the negative effects on society of a government gone bankrupt trying to appease one group, with no surety that any kind of payment would ever be enough? It may sound crass, but the expression "give them an inch and they'll take a mile" applies here.
And if, as you say, it really is about living the American Dream, when does that include accepting that reparations are a complete non-starter?
Affirmative action and the Voter Rights Act have been a great help in giving a boost to those who were excluded before. These are not reparations, but they have lead to many obtaining an education and jobs. With the election of President Obama change has at least come to the top. Our system is still very biased against African Americans, especially young males. These include unemployment and incarceration for minor property and drug offenses in a disproportional rate. Even driving a nice car can lead to a traffic stop for imagined crimes, ie. 'driving while black'. We have a long way left to go until all individuals have equal value in our society.
Your points are well taken. The Japanese however acknowledged no amount of money could wipe away the loss of dignity, pride and pain, but they accepted it and have moved on. They received the gesture. Thanks again for your points. I appreciate them.
I am really glad you corrected the spelling of the word "shirk." I was not too sure where you were coming from.
You are really missing the point of the piece completely! I am not surprised by this because when money is mentioned for African Americans and slavery, certain types of people with a certain thought process become defensive. I am not suggesting black people get anything. However, it appears when atrocities of recent note have been done at least in the 20th century there has been monetary reparations paid and therefore continues to be paid. Thus, monetary damages seems to be an answer. Since the issue of reparations for slavery is so complexed and perplexing at the same time, it is probably not beneficial for us to go round and round about something that will frankly never happen - hence the title of my article and the last line of my piece.
You are right about one thing, white Americans not most Americans harbor no guilt over slavery (and also immigrants who have come over to America since the 1960s). No one is asking for White Guilt. However, on the other hand, if an apology is taking place there is an indication that a certain amout of guilt is taking place; otherwise why even have a resolution?
Then the nation of Islam can apologize, as it was Muslim traders who bought blacks (caught and sold by other blacks) and brought them to the U.S.
Perhaps based upon your argument that only the South apologize for slavery and/or any states that had slaves during this time. In terms of the Nation of Islam. They did not exist at that time and they were not even a part of the Arab slave trade. So, two different issues here.
The majority of the West African slave trade to the U.S. was dominated by the Portuguese. If we go down the historical road we must be correct. Thank you.
Your opening line tells me a lot about your thought process which says since Slavery was legal and although slavery was morally wrong that legality trumps morality. Perhaps I have misread the meaning of what you wrote. Also, you know there are very little "former" slaves alive today, but there are a number of 1st generation still living so a lot compensation might be order based upon your suggestion. However, what you did not recognize in the bill is it all acknowledged 100 years of Jim Crow; which would include millions more African Americans through to the 1960s. If there was a compensation plan then almost the nearly 35-million African Americans alive today would benefit. Yeah! It is interesting you make yourself an arbiter of what African Americans should get for their historical pain and suffering.
You miss the whole point of the piece Sir. By the way, we are members of the human race, but we are not "one" people. We are diverse people in one nation however with factions and challenges in our society.
In terms of "black racism" versus "white racism" you need to go back and get your facts straight on this issue. There is a rise in militant and White Supremacist organizations in the U.S. that has not been seen in a long time. Lest you forget what happened nearly 3-weeks ago at the Holocaust Museum.
Racism of any sort, anti-Semistism and anti Arab are heinous and hateful Sir; this is not about pointing the finger unless the shoe fits.
The thought presented by DH is old, crusty, and tired. It has no merit. If I bring up the fact of something that happened in the past having a direct bearing on today, it is never an attempt to garner pity, or to garner some sort of reward for factually based presentation of horror untold (I am my own father).
When I engage in such recollections it is usually in the context of stringing the pearls of moments of life lived over centuries together to get a real understanding of how certain inequities that exist today came to be, and how I might...in these contemporary times, be instrumental in contributing to the resolution of such long-suffered issues.
The battlefield of life remains the individual mind looking out upon the world and pondering its place within it. A mind, a state of being, a person who can find no love inside, is often hampered by that fact. Such people usually need to be told what to think for their own heart informs them not (Fox news and caustic bigoted AM radio attracts such people). Their indoctrination becomes their life. If I lived my indoctrination I would be a racist. That is what this society has reflected to me. Thankfully, I was blessed with the ability to see possibility beyond that presented. That has made and will forever make all the difference.
You bring up excellent points and an interesting suggestion. I like it because I am such a strong proponent of education being the Civil Rights Opportunity for African American. Education has been my saving grace. However, others might feel differently about what can be done. There is so much psychological damage done over the decades and this is where the issue gets murky. Allow me to ask you a question please. Why do you think African Americans would not get reparations and other groups have? What is your opinion. Thank you.
Sure, I can see how the courts might rightfully dismiss the notion of reparations for all mixed blooded Americans, most of whom have unknowingly lived as white, but a good lawyer could make the point that nearly all US citizens, Caucasian, Native American and African, but particularly African Americans, are partly descended from both slave and slave owner, as well as partly Native American, etc. and therefore deserve reparation. That said, an attempt at blanket reparations might become a bit sticky, yet I suspect, doable.
Thank you for your comments on this. Your analogy is a powerful and I totally understand your point you are making. I really believe that is why at the end of the apology statement the Senate had a caveat about not expecting anything and that this apology does not in any way imply there will be any economic restitution. What say you about this?
In light of your thoughts, what do you think about groups such as N'COBRA (National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America), i.e., are they directing their energy in the wrong direction?
Also, what do you think about the possibility of fiscal reparations post-Iraq and post-Afghanistan, considering the billions we are spending in those areas? Wouldn't the American government be primed to spend some $$ after those conflicts wrap up?
Finally, are there any white groups or activists who are pushing for reparations to African-Americans out there?
Thanks for your feedback.
Sincerely,
WhiteManInABlackWorld
I appreciate your questions. Concerning N'COBRA, I do not want to judge them and say they are wasting their time. As a group they have to ask if their goals and objectives are being met with this apology and I dare say it is not. The issue they take up is one that will not be heard by any authoritative body or even mainstream African American leadership. It is too hot of an issue and implies "radicalism" that gets people labeled. Perhaps the reparations so to speak could be incorporated through education, health care, job training and other equality of opportunities.
For your second question, fiscal reparations for whom? The Afghans, the Iraqis? The U.S. government does not consider aid or war time expenses to be reparations.
For the last question, I do not know the answer to this question. Sorry.
Is money going to solve the problem? If the US awards every black person in this country, will we never hear about slavery ever again?
Thank you for your email, but I think you are missing the point of this piece. Jews have received about $100-billion dollars in Reparations for the Holocaust and do you ask, 'will we never hear about the Holocaust ever again?" I doubt you ask this because you know the answer to this, you do and will hear about the Holocaust for Centuries to come and I support that. Lest we forget. However, it is interesting that there are people who wish African Americans would stop talking about slavery. I wonder why? My writing this is no reflection on you sir.
In terms of 'racial purity' it is not really relevant to this article. A lot of African Americans who are not 100% African in large part is due to the miscegenation forced upon African female slave for breeding purposes and over the decades and centuries this where we get the multi varied shades of black people. Of course there were historically rare cases in which there was real love between the races (black and white) during slavery and Jim Crow (when it was illegal), but at great, great risk.
For me, the answer is readily apparent, in that, not only does the Holocaust represent one of the few massed atrocities which Americans are aware of (despite the fact that the scale of genocides in the Taiping Rebellion and the Imperial Japanese Army's "loot all, kill all, burn all" policies in the Sino-Japanese Conflict far exceed the accorded death tolls) , but it represents one of the few atrocities in which so many predominantly white europeans had suffered.
Legitimate criticism has often emphasized how our conception of history is frequently distorted through a Eurocentric mindset, and the fact that the holocaust has been elevated to its politically-correct, but wholely illegitimate status as the "worst genocide in human history" further reinforces this mentality.
This is why, in many ways that I consider "holocaust remembrance" to be ultimately counterproductive in that, rather than solidying resolve against racism in general, such "commemoration" by and large only further fuels the pre-existing doublestandard through which far too many Americans prioritize their view of history.
Thus, it doesn't surprise me that those who chant "NEVER AGAIN!!" about the Holocaust at the top of their collective lungs are often the first to holler "Get Over It!" whenever anybody mentions the topic of slavery.
"I don't need it to be free to achieve my dreams.”
The American Dream is a nightmare. The American Dream causes people to act like fools as they claw and cling for the money, which has become their life (Madoff, Blagojevich, etc...). My dreams are bigger than a house, a car, a garage, and all other material things. America robbed brown people of more than the ability to prosper financially. America killed the soul of generations of brown people and the effect of that killing is with us today -- not as excuse, not as cry for help, but as sad reflection on a daily basis. Yet, all I see is hope, change, and potential. Yet, all I see is the many women and men of brown hue who reject the assault by how they live their lives -- on a daily. Forty acres and a mule would address the financial woes some brown people face, however, it would do nothing for the ravaged spirit of a people. It is the ravaged spirit (in part) that causes the fatherless homes, high incarceration rates, high dropout rate, etc.
Reparations for African Americans who are descendants of slaves, none I know are waiting on that. America may be great, but it ain’t that great.
I really appreciate your comments and what you wrote. However, you made one assumption that my view of the American Dream is only materialism. The American Dream for me has not fully been realized materialistically in some cases, but in so many other ways for my education, my world travel, my freedom to be what ever I want despite the odds and the racism and sexism. You are right, an apology does very little to the reality of slavery in America or in North and South America. America is great and has its problems, but isn't it something that you can write "America may be great, but it ain't that great," without getting your Internet service disrupted or someone coming to arrest you. Look at what is happening in Iran right now. Thank you again for your comments.
Please also forgive me for not being enthralled with the governing powers functioning as they are supposed to -- versus as a tyrant through forced denial of my human (and not civil) right to say whatever I want to respectfully and honestly say. I consider it a lowering of standards to say the country gave me the right to speak freely. I cannot know your spiritual beliefs, but mine say, I came with certain rights, and they also say, tyrants exist who will deny you whatever. Do I give thanks for my location, my situation -- you bet I do, but to actual people (you know family friends, teachers, etc..)
My rant was -- dreams are universal, not exclusive to State, and definitely good ones go way beyond the material. This was not meant to reflect upon you...it was meant to speak to a state of mind that does exist. The very mind that will say “No to reparations” because it’s “my money”. American Dream discounts other dreams.
“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”
Jiddu Krishnamurti
I'm not black, but I am a firm believer in reparations for American blacks, and for Native Americans. Because that's how we do things here in captitalist America: you hurt somebody, they get paid.
Thank you for your well written comments and empathy on this issue. I agree with you, but I do not believe it will happen. And, even if it is not money, could something be done in terms of education or opportunities to could begin to address the past wrongs. Thank you again.
Yvonne
And don't forget Belgium's Ivory Campaign in Zaire between 1890 and 1910, which resulted in the extermination of nearly 15 million people, for which no apology, let alone reparations have been administered.
Your comments are right on. As I was writing this piece, I came across many, many example of horrendous situations again Africans and even the Aborigine People, but if I wrote about it, the article would be way too long. Thank you again for your comments. I appreciate them.