I may be wrong to post this but what the hell
But as an uptitey, whitey I don’t understand the whole apology thing. I just don’t. Believe me I don’t think slavery was right at all, I don’t think I have to explain myself either, but I do have some questions regarding the whole apology thing.
Can someone please explain what an apology is supposed to accomplish?
Is it magically going to take care of the crime in the City of Wilmington, Smyrna, Middletown?Are the drop out rates going to magically go down to zero?All of a sudden are we going to see teen pregnancies go down too?
Can I hope to see the trash in Wilmington Picked up when I drive my kids to school?
I guess with this apology there will be no more shootings?
Please explain what an apology accomplishes, means and will do for the Black Community in Delaware
Tags: Delaware
Race in Delaware (or anywhere for that matter) is a tough topic.
I’m torn on the apology issue. Like you, I have a hard time seeing the practicality. After all I didn’t own slaves.
On the other hand that very reaction, tends to deny and discount the longer term effects of slavery. I mean, I am a white guy who started out in life with some huge advantages. What have I done to acknowledge that?
Nothing.
If an apology provides emotional comfort to anyone, I’m for it. It’s a simple thing to do.
Well, if you think of it not as people apologizing, but a government apologizing, it makes a bit more sense. Sure, the people of the Delaware government who allowed slavery to happen are long gone, but the government still exists and , as an institution, can still be held accountable. It sounds weird, but isn’t all that uncommon.
Companies apologize for the failures of their products, hospitals apologize for the failures of their doctors, and governments (not often enough) apologize for their failures to their people.
So, now that we’ve covered why it’s valid, lets imagine the possible results of an apology. If the government refuses to apologize, then it beings a centuries-old pain into sharp relief. It may not be definite that slavery is the absolute cause of the problems that African Americans face, but there sure is an incredibly strong correlation. So, what does out government have to gain from not offering a heartfelt apology for the pain that the institution has caused in the past?
Some might say that the time it takes to deliberate, write, and offer the apology is time better spent elsewhere. However, I wonder what better use of a few hours could be than to try to heal the wounds of the past, and offer a new relationship to the wounded party. Who wants to tell someone that their pain is not worth your time?
If the government does decide to take the step of an apology, there may be real benefits. It may create a stronger, more inclusive community. It may touch some of those who feel the continued effects of slavery. It may touch those who have never considered what it may be like to still live with that kind of past. If it touches a few and raises awareness for many, then I can’t see it as a worthless gesture.
I think the possible benefits far outweigh the potential harm, if there is any to harm to speak of.
Well put Joe.
I’d like to apologize to the American Indians, but the government pretty much wiped them out. Kind of like the tree falling in the forest; if there’s no one to hear it, there’s no point.
Did Halliburton provide military contracts for the soldiers who wiped out the Indians?
No, that would be Dupont.
Joe,
you make great points. I guess my question still is what happens when you get the apology?
All of a sudden when someone gets an apology they can move on? Aren’t the people wanting an apology wanting something more?
I guess that was the basis for my question, once they (yes I said they) get an apology all of a sudden is there going to be more cohesiveness in Delawares Black Community?
I just don’t get it. Are they sitting (yesssss I said they again!) around waiting for an apology and then PRESTO they all come together and say “Oh great we got an apology” Now we can come together and take care of all our problems.
But like Jason I hit the lottery when I was born, I though am white and angrier
Great reply, Joe.
Slavery (as well as Jim Crow)and the racial problems derived from that are often discussed as America’s Original Sin. Long past the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Act and all of the work to make African-Americans a legitimate part of the American civic life, there is a legacy of that racism that continues to persist.
To some extent, the fact that Donviti needs to soften the existence of this diary (I May Be Wrong to Post This) is one small bit of evidence of the many ways that we all transmit some discomfiture with the discussion of race in America. An apology may not make that any easier, but if the government apology makes more folks aware of the relative advantages white skin inherits in this culture, then that advances the conversation, I think. It is very interesting to me that there was little furor over the long-deserved apology and reparations to Japanese American survivors of the WWII American internment camps. The very differences in the reactions to the government taking a real step in some racial healing for these two groups continues to point to how very ingrained the racial reactions to African Americans can still be.
The lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow are incredibly difficult to talk about, but it is easy to say that these government-supported institutions were wrong. The lingering effects is what I would hope that we might have some smart discussions about. Because none of this goes way until we at least acknowledge it.
An apology, whatever else it is, is a political win for a small group of activists. I don’t mind giving them that victory.
I just thought of something that turned me into a strident advocate for a slavery “apology.” .
In my heart of hearts I want an apology from Mike Castle for supporting Bush. I feel betrayed by the fact that he supported that evil dim wit given his reputation as a smart moderate.
I want Castle to apologize for not strenuously working against Bush. What will it accomplish? I don’t know – but I REALLY, REALLY want it.
I feel like I get it now.
How does one get a whole segment of the population to “buy in” to the concept that being an American is good for them, especially when history tells them otherwise?
As with a marriage, or business union, or a conflict on a job site, sometimes who is “right” matters, but it matters less than patching things over and moving “onward” .
The apology may mean something to only one party. But sometimes in real life, we decide to give up things we love (our pride), to protect that which we love even more (our country).
Forgot to add “Well posted” to Joe M.
We might also want to add some thanks for the huge economic contribution the slaves made to this country.
Donviti,
the answer to your question is no, the appology will do nothing to address the social ills you enumerated.
But flapping your gums in Dover is a whole lot easier than working to address the problems of the underclass (the pathologies descirbed are not limited to a single racial group), and much more socially acceptable among the chattering classes. (as Mr Cosby discovered)
You may be surprised to hear that I have no opinion on this at all, other than to blame the British for introducing slavery to the Thirteen Colonies in the first place. Can we send Al Sharpton to Parliament to demand an apology? I’d pay 50 bucks to watch that on Pay-Per-View!
I grew up in Maryland, which has already apologized for being a slave state, so I’m content to sit back and watch y’all work it out.
G,
you may be surprised that I don’t give a shit about your opinion even if you had one 🙂
that was too easy, I couldn’t refuse
“other than to blame the British for introducing slavery”
where’s hube he might try to blame the clinton’s somehow
I think slaves used to darn Sandy Berger’s socks too.
“Joe,
you make great points. I guess my question still is what happens when you get the apology?
All of a sudden when someone gets an apology they can move on? Aren’t the people wanting an apology wanting something more?
I guess that was the basis for my question, once they (yes I said they) get an apology all of a sudden is there going to be more cohesiveness in Delawares Black Community?
I just don’t get it. Are they sitting (yesssss I said they again!) around waiting for an apology and then PRESTO they all come together and say “Oh great we got an apology” Now we can come together and take care of all our problems.
But like Jason I hit the lottery when I was born, I though am white and angrier”
Well, I can’t definitely say what will happen if our government grows a pair, that pair finally drops, and the government apologizes. However, here is my ideal of what could happen:
The government of Delaware offers a sincere apology for in the past allowing slavery. In so doing, they also make a statement on the necessity of equal rights for all citizens, and invite open discussion from all Delawareans on racism, bigotry, and any other isms that cause us to treat others as a lesser human being.
In so doing, the government wins a bit of respect from African Americans and other minority groups, not to mention any other citizens that respect when their government sacrifices shallow pride for compassion.
The apology may start discussion between citizens of different social and cultural backgrounds even in the tiniest degree. That small beginning may have the long term effect of more harmony among the people.
Again, that’s the ideal of what I hope could be achieved by this one small move. It may seem naive to some, but that’s okay. I’d rather be a little naive and retain some hope than completely cynical and see no way in which humans can succeed in living together.
They??? Joe, you might as well call them “you people.” Still, you’re being thoughtful on the issue. If an apology from the state of Delaware moves things along in race relations, then issue it. Even if all it does is puff up the professional activists, so what. It doesn’t cost a thing.
…and DV, you’re a poopy-head.
g,
I knew that already 😛
After the apology, we move on? To what? What’s the next step? Can you say reparations? Sure you can!
“other than to blame the British for introducing slavery”
Actually it was Asiatic Jews that owned the ships used to transport slaves. Want to blame them too? This apology issue is ridiculous! I completely agree that it will accomplish nothing, except possibly clearing the way for reparations which is equally as ridiculous!
Great blog!
I don’t see how an official apology accomplishes anything, as it’s on behalf of people and of a way of life that is dead, repudiated (on the part of most persons, at least), thoroughly gone with the wind.
At the same time, I don’t see how it harms anyone either. Heck, Virginia, my family’s home for 300 years, hardly the most progressive state, somehow managed to be the first state to apologize for the institution of slavery.
Yet, the scars of slavery did not end with the institution.
All of us, white, black, or whatever, are still paying in some form for the American history of chattel slavery and racism.
Just look around.
Walk down North Market Street.
I will rephrase that.
If you are white, I dare you to walk down North Market Street. Or through South Bridge.
And come back and claim it’s all just in the past.
challenge me to run down North Market street and you are on…
thanks for commenting frank!