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How much is an apology really worth?
Last week, in an unprecedented action, the House of Representatives voted to pass a non-binding resolution to apologize for slavery and Jim Crow laws that were used to keep African-Americans from using their political rights for almost a century after the Civil War. As an African-American, I am pleased and perplexed by this vote and wonder who stands to gain from this warm and fuzzy moment.
The sponsor of the bill, Representative Steve Cohen, represents a majority African-American district and is running in his first re-election campaign. While I do not think that his bill (H. Resolution 194) is a total political maneuver, it does not hurt his chances of winning a second term.
A more interesting question is why forward an apology at this time? Perhaps it may have something to do with a possible occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It would be in bad form to elect a person of color to the Presidency if our government never formally addressed the historic legacy of slavery in this country. But what does this apology really mean? Is it going to address the inadequate schools in our cities or help in rebuilding a sense of economic viability in the African-American community? Probably not, so what is the next step in the process of racial reconciliation?
There are two examples of steps taken by States and the Congress to provide financial reparations to ethnic groups that were mistreated by our government. Native Americans were offered tax breaks and the ability to own casino gaming licenses which they have used to their advantage. In 1988, the Congress apologized to American citizens of Japanese descent and offered $20,000 per person to each of the 60,000 detainees held against their will during the Second World War.
So how much is the apology for slavery and Jim Crow laws actually worth in 2008? In 1865, freed slaves were promised 40 acres and a mule through Special Field Orders No. 15 by General William T. Sherman. Of course, by the end of 1866, President Johnson had repealed Sherman’s order that was authorized by President Lincoln. How much is 40 acres and a mule worth today? The reality is that if it took 140 years to get a written apology do not look for the African-American stimulus package to hit your mailbox anytime soon.
In the meantime, how about just getting forty textbooks for forty students AND a competent teacher in each classroom…I’ll just have to wait for my condo and my hybrid.
4 Responses to “How much is an apology really worth?”
“As an African-American, I am pleased and perplexed by this vote and wonder who stands to gain from this warm and fuzzy moment…”
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Politics are often nauseating. They insult our intelligence and all the while claim legitimacy, in spite of their sordid origins..
This race-circus has about run its course. There are only so many times you can whip a subject before the subject becomes calloused and numb.
The proof is always in the pudding. It's not just blacks that suffer nowadays though, our growing numbers of working poor of all races vs a small minority of filthy-rich is the new “race issue” of the day. Unfortunately the way we will all become equal is being equally smashed under the thumbs of the very wealthy and the amoral policies they continue to promote at the expense of “the little people” and the environment.
I applaud Congress for shutting out the lights on the henchmen for the filthy rich, the GOP, that stayed after like pouting little babies who thought they could whine until Nanny Pelosi gave them back their oil-bottle. Her grit and determination reminds me of the controversial, but damned effective Maggie Thatcher, former Prime Minister of England.
We need to see more grit and delivery like this when it comes to the disenfranchised. It almost brought tears to my eyes. It has been decades since I've seen elected democrats stand up and turn the lights out on GOP pressure. This type of confrontation is healthy and reminds the GOP that there are limits to their never-ending tactics to secure wealth at the expense of the masses..
Johnson didn't repeal a law passed by Congress – the President can't do that. In his role as commander in chief of the Army he rescinded Sherman's order.
Putting money where the mouth is, is very important. As hard as it is to make ends meet, I always strive to help others. My level of “affluence” is laughable to the GOP. I keep chickens and other livestock for meat and milk and have gardens and try to grocery shop as little as possible. I recycle everything and everything that is edible food scraps just goes right back into eggs via the chickens.
Our area is poor, there is little work. What work there was has been farmed out overseas by and large. Over the years many children, friends of my own, have walked through our doors hungry. One little girl in particular had a momma who turned tricks just to make ends meet. She became addicted to drugs and no longer remembered or cared why she started prostitution and so began to neglect her children.
This one of her kids used to come by our house having not eaten for two and sometimes three days. Other children in the area suffer from the type of malnutrition from lack of protein and overabundance of cheaper starches. So of the hungry kids that come by regularly I would make sure to get some hamburger or fish in them. In the Spring we have fresh milk. And always some greens from the garden. Eggs too..
Lately though protein on our limited budget has been hard to come by. Animal feed prices are going up thanks to the politics of BigOil, and so my meat herd has been greatly reduced just to get by. I've found a great substitute just in case any of you are helping your stricken communities by feeding people even less well off than you. I've begun buying edamame in bulk, roasted and dry like peanuts. A small handful, about 1/4 of a cup, provides 25% of the daily recommended need for protein. I try to keep a carton of it around in the entertainment room and when the kids come by they can just snack at will and without knowing it are sustaining their malnurished bodies.
(For those who aren't familiar, “edamame” is immature or green soybeans. Soy is a rotation legume crop that farmers often use to fix nitrogen back into depleated soils, so it's a double-plus.)
So even if the super-rich are whining about how they cannot afford their sixth yacht, We The People can put our money where our mouths are. If nothing else we can lead by example. I'm not out bashing down the doors of Congress with a battering ram; but just a tale of a carton of roasted edamame beans might be the light knock that opens the door ajar.
Thanks for the correction.