Do you think Barack Obama, if elected President of The United States Of America, will or should apologize on behalf of the U.S. government for Slavery, Jim Crow Laws, stolen land and the many other atrocities committed against African Americans?Japanese Americans who were interned during World War two received an apology and monetary compensation from the U.S. government. The details are below.
In 1988, U.S. President (and former California governor) Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which had been pushed through Congress by Representative Norman Mineta and Senator Alan K. Simpson — the two had met while Mineta was interned at a camp in Wyoming — which provided redress of $20,000 for each surviving detainee, totaling $1.2 billion dollars. The question of to whom reparations should be given, how much, and even whether monetary reparations were appropriate were subjects of sometimes contentious debate.
World War Two internment campOn September 27, 1992, the Civil Liberties Act Amendments of 1992, appropriating an additional $400 million in order to ensure that all remaining internees received their $20,000 redress payments, was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush, who also issued another formal apology from the U.S. government.
Would you hope for or expect an apology from Barack Obama?
Do you think the United States owes African Americans an apology?
Do you think the United States owes African Americans an apology?
Japanese Internment Information courtesy Wikipedia
25 comments:
MDC another great question. If Obama becomes president we should expect the same thing from him an, apology. He's running on change therefore, I am looking for change. Maybe we will get our 40 acres and a mule because, it's long over due.
I don't know if an apology from Obama would mean anything. It's not that he wouldn't be sincere. But, even though he isn't descended from slaves, it would seem like since he's Black, African Americans would be apologizing to themselves. I do think the government should apologize though, I feel that it is unlikely, especially in light of the fact that the aborigines of Australia followed up their governments apology with a legal call for reparations.
No no, and no. Unfortunately, the US bases the case of slavery on the fact that many slaves never had any certification that their ancestors were slaves themselves. Also, If we really went and calculated how much money was owed to African-Americans in this country, it would be insane. The country would dive into a worse recession. Of course, some states have already issued apologies as well as some other countries, because their leaders at least have a better understanding of the responsibility the ancestors have for slavery and its continuing effects.
As for Barack saying the apology, it just wouldn't be as effective, because Barack is a Black man. That'd be like him apologizing to his own people, and that makes no sense. It'd have to be a rich, white, male Protestant leading the country in one form or another, so that apology might never happen.
Whew, that's a slightly heavy question! :-)
I honestly don't think that Obama should apologize for White people, the ones that actually committed the act. It would mean a LITTLE more to me if it actually came from a White president for some reason.
As far as monetary compensation goes, I do feel that we deserve something. What I found out a few years ago, some of the Japanese-Americans that received that money tore the checks up! What is so different btwn us and them that they got $20,000, and no one wants to even hear Black people hint at reparations! They feel like Affirmative Action and HUD, etc (which benefits mostly White or other minority women besides Black) are "reparations."
I sometimes feel like this country doesn't care about us Blacks at all-this is one of the reasons why I got out of the military. And the media gets angry with Michelle Obama when she said this is the first time she's proud of this country. Look at what Blacks have gone through to get what they have!
No! The victim should not apologize. I know his family history is not tied to slavery in the Americas. But, the same colonial powers responsible for slavery in the Americas is responsible for the horrible conditions of Kenya today. The British terrorized the people of Kenya, they cut off limbs of people that didn't pay taxes to them for the land the Kenyans owned for hundreds of years before the British arrived. They killed several Kenyans during the Mau Mau uprising in the sixties, so no! But, since he would be operating as the representative of the OFFICE of the President of the United States I would not be suprised if he did apologize for slavery.
I think that America owes us more than an apology. America needs to pay up. The fact of the matter is that this country wouldn't be in the position that it is if it weren't for over 400 years of black free slave labor. I don't know if Barack is the appropriate person to make the apology. Would it mean the same coming from him being that he is a black man? Why do we have to wait for a black man to get into office to get an apology?
I would like to see an apology and reparation from the US government. I don't know if that's what I want the next President to have as one of their top priorities. There are other, more current issues, that I think need immediate attention. Maybe after some of the last administrations wrongs are turned around - then the next President can focus on going back and fixing earlier wrongs.
I feel this way regardless of who is President. I do not hold Obama to a higher standard than any other candidate on this issue.
okay, i know it could get hairy for me there, but i don't think he should apologize.
diplomatically speaking: although it would be a great gesture, when he starts apologizing to one group which had to suffer from the american way of dealing with people he soon wouldn't be able to cover up his actual political work, because other groups will expect apologies too. and it is very hard to set priorities on this one as you can easily insult people by preferring to apologize to one group and not the other...
why don't just make a cut and have a fresh start...i don't mean to forget and forgive, but taking the new chances...
@6:20 - agreed!!
Mes Deux Cents,
This was a big issue proposed in Chicago by former Alderwoman Dorothy Tillman.
http://worldnewssite.com/News/2002/October/2002-10-03-9-Chicago.html
http://www.zmag.org/content/print_article.cfm?itemID=13635§ionID=1
Politics are so perplexing.
I am a believer that people evolve and opinions change and ultimately I just hope he becomes a good, conscientious president who commits himself to the right causes and to the masses who have so much faith in him.
As always, you promote great think-tank discussion!
Honestly, it wouldn't change anything no matter what mouth an apology came out of. Neither would reparations. I wouldn't take anything that is meant to "say I am sorry" for the dead wrong stuff that was did, to those who are dead and gone. I can't even imagine being a real live slave for my entire life. That's cold.
Also, Obama would be a fool if he stood up and apologized for it. lol.
Loved this post, as usual. Thought provoking.
>>Would you hope for or expect an apology from Barack Obama?
Nope.
>>Do you think the United States owes African Americans an apology?
Since I'm naturalized my ancestors weren't held in bondage here. However, I've always wondered why the discussion from the US govt can't be more straightforward. I remember Clinton had a black historian heading some committee to study race relations. Clinton made some semi-apologies, but nothing more than that.
I lay the blame with the CBC. They could have pushed for this a long time ago.
I believe that there should be a national day recognizing the evil of slavery and its end in this country, which predates some Latin America and Caribbean countries by 50 years plus.
There's too much of a bury it under the rug and "get over it" mentality from media, and maybe academia, in addressing this issue. I suspect if this was dealt with in the open, that'd be an improvement. Plus, it would make for a refreshing clean slate for this new millennium.
that's a really heavy question. I really wouln't expect it to happen. When blacks are in position of power, it's expected that they will neglect some of the issues that are pertinent to their community. If Obama were to issue this apology,many whites would characterize him as a "black" president, a race man so to speak. I bleieve that it'd definitely hinder any chance he had at re-election.
An apologyhowever would be in order.I just don't believe that he'd be the correct person to issue the apology. That should include the executive as well as the Congress. And if that were done, it'd set off a precedent. Demands for reparations wouldn't be far behind. That's a large part of the reason why nor formal apology has been extended imo.
How would we determine how much money we should get and who should get it. I mean, what age group. Do both of your parents have to be black. I know they use to say that if you have 1/10 black blood in your system then you were black. Seems to me that a lot of people would be claiming to be black in order to get reparations. It seems ironic that a black man as the commander and chief of the united states of america would have to apologize to himself on behalf of the government that enslaved his people.
JJ B,
That is a great point you make about change. That would be a real change.
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HC,
I think an apology is in order as well. I think the Australia situation is very interesting.
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Jose,
So would you expect an apology from Hillary?
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Randi,
I think WE all understood what Michelle meant, I think others (in the media) understand too but are playing dumb.
I totally agree with her.
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Ensayn,
I wonder if this will come up in the general election.
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Tasha,
I agree that we should be compensated in some way. I think an apology would be a good start.
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FL,
Yep we do have a lot of problems to fix.
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Kayoz,
So you don't think that Germany should have apologized and paid reparations to the Holocaust survivors?
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Lady di,
What do you mean?
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House on a Hill,
Thanks for the link!
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Don,
But don't you expect apologies from people that do wrong things to you in your life?
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GoldenAh,
John Conyers has introduced reparations legislation each year for a very long time and it has gone nowhere.
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mp1 v.8.0
I agree that it might be better coming from Congress.
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Anon,
I'm not sure; the question was about an apology not reparations. I just used the Japanese American example to show that the U.S. has apologized before.
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oh mdc, i feared that kind of response. that is not what i meant. but see, the germans only apologized to the jews, much later to the sinti and roma after they fought hard for it...what about the victims of euthanasia, about the homosexuals, the politicals, the they just don't fit into our ideal-people who had to suffer?
all i meant to say is, when obama starts to apologize, he will have to apologize to a lot more than just to African Americans!
and about the reparations, the US just put up a new record in debts... so money the country doesn't really have will have to be spent on sooo many people the economy would break down.
and as i said, it is not about forgive and forget, but perhaps it will be forgotten, if you can say: "well, he apologized for it, so let's get back to business!"
if you want to move forward as a society, as multicultural it may be, you have to find some kind of agreement. and i doubt it can be found with stressing the conflicts within.
i'd rather not be german, but that's unfortunately a burden i was given by birth and i have to live with it. but if i have to define myself, i define myself as a human being first. and nationality as much as skin color, religion or even gender truly comes last on my list of identity items...
idealistic as i am, i'm dreaming of a society which defines its members by what they have in common and not in what way they differ...
Don,
But don't you expect apologies from people that do wrong things to you in your life?
Sometimes...but as far as your post, the real live slaves are all dead now. That's why I don't think an apology would matter.
Those are the ones who really, REALLY suffered.
Nevermind, Mes, I feel like you are picking on me...lol
If we get an apopogy it should be from P. Bush because Hillary may not make it to the w/house, and Barack Obama can't apologize for something he had no part of.
Kayoz,
I understand what you are saying but I think that if awrong is done an apology is in order. It may not be simple to say sorry but the wrong done was not simple either.
As for reparations; that's another issue that would require a lot of thoght and time to work out. But reparations do not always have to be paid in cash. They can be paid in tax breaks and other things.
And I love your idealizm! :)
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Don,
Lol, I'm not messing with you. I'm just saying that what we expect in our one on one relationships are the same things we should expect in our collective relationships.
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T.I.C.,
It is very complicated insn't it.
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I think one of the differences between what Germany did and the American situation is that, even to this day many Germans feel bad about what took place during the Holocaust. There are a lot of young Germans who come to Israel to volunteer because they feel they need to do something to make up for the past. Also, the Holocaust is still somewhat recent. There are apologetic Germans who remember what went on in their country. With Slavery in America the time span is getting further and further away.
When I lived in America I don't remember a lot of Americans, whose ancestors could be linked to slavery, having emotions about it in the same way. It is hard even in this day and time to identify exactly who in the modern era carries the ancestral responsibility for it.
I also think that the call for apologies and reparations often falls on deaf ears based on how it is presented as well as a few facts I will list below.
1) I believe the use of the word slave to describe those who were enslaved makes them seem a lot less than people. I instead would call them Victims of Institutionalized Enslavement. By using this group of wording they are first and foremost PEOPLE, and the system was accepted on a corporate and governmental level.
2) When you put people in a system which is accepted on a governmental and corporate level more people can relate to that. Continuously calling said people slaves separates the human element of WHO they were, and people can't relate to things that don't have an human element.
3) Personally, I think it is really late for slavery reparations. The people who were directly affected are to far long gone. Most people today no matter what their race can really relate to the American system of slavery. Thus legally it is hard to make a direct link to every African American's situation in relation to slavery.
4) If a case should be made for the present it should be based on Legal and Institutionalized Racism and Terrorism from 1900 to the 1960's. (Just to put it into a specific time set that can be easily identified from a legal perspective.) I.e. Jim Crow and legal lynchings were Racism and Terrorism. Because the American waited to late to do something about it they are legally responsible for every lynching or racists act against American citizens.
5) Not being able to identify every African American's specific connection to people who were Institutionally Enslaved and Illegally Imprisoned also makes the case very difficult to interpret legally in terms of what they are owed. For example, specifically what families had their rights infringed on? To what degree? Was land lost or stolen? What was the value of lost land? What did the governments do to protect their rights? With specifics to these kind of questions, and the ability to make direct links it would easier to make a legal case on why an apology or reparations are appropriate. Yet, this could easily be disproportionate for different groups of African Americans.
With Japanese interned by the US government there were people who specifically could show how the government infringed on the rights of specific people. With the Jews who survived the Holocaust there were specific people who could show they were directly affected by what the German did.
Personally, I think what should happen is a group of African Americans who can trace their situation back to SPECIFIC people who were enslaved as well as SPECIFIC family members who suffered under Institutionalized Racism and Terrorism should bring a lawsuit against the responsible state and national structures that did not prevent the Civil Rights of said family members from being infringed upon. They could set a legal precedent for people who can do the same.
Bill Clinton gave an apology of sorts during a visit to Africa when he was president. That was as close as i expect from any President. I don't expect or want an apology for a President Obama (if he gets elected). I want him to bring the nation together and I accept that an apology would pull us apart.
I also don't expect or want reparations any longer. Frankly, the best reparations our community can have is a Black president that has a soul (as opposed to a Clarence Thomas like president).
peace, Villager
MDC - I am agreeing with Jose. I think he summed it up for me very well.
Ehav,
You site time limitations as a reason reparations would not be feasible.
First; I didn’t really mention reparations for African Americans, only the question of an apology.
But if I were to address the point you make I'd say this; it is not our fault that we were not able to sue for reparations immediately after slavery. One because reparations had been promised but not paid, forty acres and a mule.
Second; the climate of suppression during that time would have made it impossible for Black people to sue for reparations.
So the point about too much time elapsing is due to circumstances beyond the control of African Americas.
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Villager,
Is that what that was; an apology? I don't consider going to Africa to apologize a valid apology.
It might pull us apart but that would be on White people not us.
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Lady Di,
Okay got it! :)
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Hey MDC,
I think you misunderstand what I wrote. First, I wrote, "I think that the call for apologies and reparations often falls on deaf ears based on how it is presented as well as a few facts I will list below."
My comments about reparations weren't specifically towards you. There were several comparisons made in the comments between Japanese internments during WWII and about the Holocaust. When one considers that the US owes AA's an apology, the concept of some form reparations should not be far behind it. What is suitable reparations several generations later is up for debate.
I am simply pointing out the differences in groups who have received apologies and reparations in the past.
I am not placing a blame on the ancestors of modern AA's for not being able to bring up legal actions about reparations or an apology. From what I understand some of them did bring up legal actions, maybe not on the national level. I also have heard that some AA's did receive some compensation. Yet, this was not a national thing and the circumstances varied on the group of individuals and their ability to fight for such things.
I am simply stating some of the reasons that non-African Americans who run the American government may not take such things as an apology seriously for Institutionalized Enslavement of African Americans.
If everyone agrees that a formal apology has not been made on the national US level and such an apology is necessary, the question then is why not? That is what I am addressing. I am saying that maybe the approach for getting such a thing needs to be considered if it hasn't been accomplished as of yet.
Thus, I also wrote:
Personally, I think what should happen is a group of African Americans who can trace their situation back to SPECIFIC people who were enslaved as well as SPECIFIC family members who suffered under Institutionalized Racism and Terrorism should bring a lawsuit against the responsible state and national structures that did not prevent the Civil Rights of said family members from being infringed upon. They could set a legal precedent for people who can do the same.
Ehav,
I agree; maybe some people are already working on that. That would be a first step.
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