The Knife is Still in Our Backs...But at Least They Admit its There

I didn't want to write about an apology for slavery. I thought a latent action to right historical wrongs didn't warrant my acknowledgment, let alone attention. The knife placed square between the shoulders of Africans in 1619 had not moved an inch. It still rested firmly in the backs of their decedents. However, the more I thought about it the more I felt I had to say something.
On June 18, the Senate passed a resolution apologizing for slavery and I was not moved. The Washington Post said the statement paved the way for a "joint congressional resolution and the latest attempt by the federal government to take responsibility for 2 1/2 centuries of slavery." But paved away to what end to what has so far been a cipher of discontent with little responsibility or recourse paid by the perpetrators or the ones who still benefit from their actions today?

This "latest attempt" is just as meaningless, empty, and worthless as the declining dollar on the global market. The Washington Post article, "Senate Backs Apology for Slavery" is jarring in the verbiage that mentions that that government is attempting to take responsibility for slavery. That is in fact not true at all. For one to take responsibility for transgressions against another party has be more than mere words. Printed script does nothing to speak to a legacy of death, domination, and perpetual bondage. There is blood on this republic's hands and it brings pitiful offerings to the alter of forgiveness.

Moreover, the Senate was sure to write the language of the apology in such a way so that it could never be used against them in any type of litigation dealing with reparations. What kind of apology is that? It's simply a legislative version of OJ Simpson's "If I Did It" -- all the facts, none of the repercussions.

Congress has insulted the righteous intelligence of Americans, particularly those of African descent, with this decree. The admission of guilt does NOTHING to provide for actions to resolve the bitter, ugly, and inhumane history of the transatlantic slave trade (and its domestic cousin).

When Malcolm X explained his misinterpreted "chickens coming home to roost" comments he also spoke about progress. Progress to him was not only taking the proverbial knife out of the back of African Americans, but removing the knife and taking action to make amends. No amends have been made, and there likely will not be. Most whites as well as their negro servants will say "get over it" but I have yet to hear someone tell the nation of Israel or Jews throughout the world to get over the Holocaust, nor have I seen any mention of NOT being accountable for the internment of Japanese American citizens in this nation during World War II. Both groups have had not only apologies, but reparations.

Maybe there is a victory here in this tragic and cowardly legislation, at least they now admit the knife is there.