[Cure-news] Apology Does Not Pay Debt

[Ida Hakim]

Apology Does Not Pay Debt

By Ida Hakim

Has America suddenly developed a 'soft heart', like old Pharaoh of the 
Bible, when Egypt was beset with plagues?

Has our nation suddenly awakened, ready to acknowledge its history and 
build a more just future for these grandchildren we're about to leave it 
to? Or are we expected to accept a series of empty gestures in response 
to demands for justice and pretend that it's all better?

Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives, without debate and on 
an unrecorded voice vote, passed a non-binding resolution 
apologizing for slavery and Jim Crow, stating that, "a genuine apology 
is an important and necessary first step in the process of 
racial reconciliation."

This decision was a surprise to many of us who support reparations for 
slavery. Over and over in the past, we have heard even the simplest 
proposals for an apology dismissed for fear that they will open the door 
to reparations.

The U.S. delegation refused to participate in the 2001 World Conference 
Against Racism where reparations for slavery was on everyone's tongue. 
The U.S. tried to derail the process as the UN recognized 
Afro-descendant minorities and acknowledged the absence of their most 
basic human right to their original identity. For more years than we can 
count, Congress has tabled Chairman John Conyers' (D MI) HR-40, which 
would merely study reparations. As recently as 2000, another 
white Congressman, Tony Hall (D OH), had his bill apologizing for 
slavery rejected.

Meanwhile, Congress continues to consent to a host of inequities 
including laws that incarcerate an entire generation of African American 
youth.

But now here it is -- an apology for slavery introduced by a 
white Freshman Congressman, Steve Cohen (D TN) who is defending his seat 
in the majority black Memphis Congressional District he first won as 
the only white candidate in a twelve-member field in 2006.

It's difficult to trust the intent of a gesture while faced with 
ironic contradictions, but let's be hopeful.

Black reparations leaders and organizations have, for many years, been 
discussing what it would take to repair damages, compensate victims, 
restore identity and provide restitution. Some believe than an apology 
could be a precursor to a national dialogue on reparations. So, to the 
US House of Representatives we say, "Thank you, whatever your motives. 
Now let's move ahead to the real conversation."