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Apology for Slavery? Part 1 In May 1995, Pope John Paul apologized for the Christian wars against non-believers during the 16th century Counter-Reformation. June 1997, Tony Blair initiated an apology on the behalf of Britian in their role in the death of 1.5 million Irish during the potato famine of 1845-1851. Germany apologized in April 1990 for the massacre of millions of Jews in the Holocaust and paid 60 million in restitution after denying culpability for 40 years. The US Government has given Native Americans reparations in the form of land or reservations due to the rape of their land, women, children and massacre from the efforts of colonization. In 1988 the US Government apologized and awarded Japanese-Americans, who were held in war camps during World War II, reparations in the amount of $20,000 each. The significance in these facts are that each man has represented a group or country to issue a form of apology in which their people have committed centuries or decades before. Former Ohio Congressman Tony Hall proposed The Apology for Slavery Resolution of2000 which suggested the US Government apologize to African Americans for centuries of enslavement of their ancestors. The result: Sparked racism and infuriated whites that called the initiative frivolous. The wealth American businesses accumulated from slavery that most Americans failed to acknowledge, blossomed for debate as well as the effects of slavery through discrimination and underachievement in current African American communities. Virginia became the first state to give an apology for human black enslavement in 2007 along with other states to proceed. Del. Frank D. Hargrove Sr. made his comments of blacks not needing an apology because they should "get over it" and his most insensible analogy, "Are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?". What is the peculiarity here? Why was the US able to apologize to the Japanese and the Indians with no protest from citizens but an apology to African Americans are viewed as a non deserving wasteful attempt Apology for Slavery? Part 1 Some people argue that slavery was over 150 years ago and that Blacks should get over it because they didn't experience it and that they have every opportunity to progress. Additionally some argue that they don't have to apologize for profiting from slave labor, enslavement, murder and torture. Some whites wonder why Virginia should have apologized in the first place. Perhaps the apology on Virginia's part was due to remorse for being a hub for the trading of slaves and using them to make tobacco in the state the most profitable industry without issuing any type of compensation in return like normal humans receive when they perform labor. The acknowledgements of regret for slavery have been expressed as far back as President Thomas Jefferson and John Adams; however, there still leaves to be an official "apology". Why is an apology from the American government for centuries of enslavement of blacks so intangible? I do not believe white individuals should apologize for slavery on the behalf of their ancestors nor do I believe Native Americans should apologize for their enslavement of African American slaves. However, it is important to note that the Native Americans have taken initiatives in giving slaves and their descendant's reparation resolutions in the form of citizenship in the tribal nations (exception of Cherokee) which afforded blacks the opportunity to acquire land. That was more than the promised 40 acres and a mule from the US government which slaves never received. Slaves and their owners are dead; therefore, anyone alive today cannot apologize for sins of others. There is no justice in blaming a group of people for the horrible violation of human rights by their ancestors towards another group that has long since been removed from the acts. Some whites say their families were immigrants and have nothing to do with slavery. This is why they shouldn't have to apologize. I do however believe the state and government should give a statement of apology and monetary compensation to benefit the advancement of African Americans who still struggle to be accepted and treated parallel to whites in the justice, corporate and educational systems. These efforts of "reparations" have already taken place to a degree. These fiscal grants should cater to the depressed areas where descendants are most hurt by the legacy of slavery, discrimination and poverty. Apology for Slavery? Part 1 The reluctance for an apology has sparked indifference between black and white races. Not surprisingly blacks feel more zealous in the efforts for an apology in contrast to whites. Frank D. Hargrove, the same man that states blacks should get over slavery, remains oblivious to the fact that his acute advocacy in initiating education reform programs for children K-12 is in a state (Virginia) that happens to be part of the southern black belt; an area denoted for poverty, substandard education and of slave descendants that are still reaping the illiterate and poverty residual aftermath of slavery. Ironic? But this is what Mr. Hargrove wants us all to forget. Perhaps he also remains ignorant to the fact that the building in which he works from and made his "get over it" offense was built off the backs and sweat from slaves, the US Capitol. The hesitancy to offer an apology is not as a result of insignificance and value of a 150 year old event as many whites like to put it but more of still brewing racial aggression. If slavery doesn't deserve an apology due to being a thing of the past, why was Mr. Hargrove more willing to apologize to the Pamunkey and Mattaponi Indians of Virginia? "It would be far more appropriate in my view to apologize to the Upper Mattaponi and the Pamnkey Indians for the loss of their lands in eastern Virginia" he said. Of course these Indians lost land to the state of Virginia in their efforts to graze for tobacco "before" slavery became an instituted conglomerate. No no people, a denial of an apology for slavery isn't because it's too old and irrelevant because Mr. Hargrove clearly debunks that theory. It is because racist America hasn't changed in 150 years. With the demise of slavery it was thought that slaves would rise to become equal and respected citizens however with the still bitter acrimony from the south, white supremacists enacted to keep blacks low on the social and racial hierarchy by enforcing Black codes or Jim Crow which were buttressed by lynching, cross burning, rape and other terroristic acts. These laws were not even abolished 60 years ago. This residual prejudice hasn't died and the fact that some feel the government has no purpose in apologizing for these acts of human violation conveys that racism is still in the form of personal prejudice. The southern and border states in addition to the US government played a willing role in the segregation and discrimination of blacks. Their "separate but equal" theory resulted in substandard education, wages and working conditions. Effects of such a philosophy are noticeable in the salary, education and work statistic disparities of African Americans compared to whites.
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