Posted in full at TexasKaos.com
Blacks really should just get over slavery. I mean, c'mon, guys (or is that homies?). Y'all were enslaved several hundred years, taken from your people in Africa, stripped of your cultural and religious identities and given new ones (like "boy" or "mami"), given new families here, taken from those families, treated as animals to be bred and sold off or, as some farmers do, raped - for several hundred years.
But, DAMN, y'all gots yer freedoms & civil rights since the '60s. Why. can't. y'all. just. get. over. it?
And THAT is a question put forth by this Republican Virginia legislator, Frank D. Hargove (standing).
First off, I really am amazed that I have to do this. I mean, Hargove, you're right - we are living in 2007. The 21st century. We should be educated enough to understand how a culture living for hundreds of years as slaves would need some time to recover from the debilitating effects of slavery. And for godsakes, we should be able to be sensitive enough to express any disagreement in more appropriate words than "get over it."
But apparantly we do have to do this.
Well, the Jews should apologize for killing Christ.
Hargove's response to the bill, besides "get over it", was also to ask if Jews should apologize for killing Christ.
See video of Hargove's exchange with an angry Virginia legislature here.
"Are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?" Hargrove wondered. "Nobody living today had anything to do with it. It would be far more appropriate in my view to apologize to the Upper Mattaponi and the Pamunkey" Indians for the loss of their lands in eastern Virginia, he said.
Hargove's amazing display of ignorance leaves me befuddled as to where to start.
First off, the "Jews" did not kill Christ. He was killed by Romans, who were appeasing political powerful and weathly priests. The priests, who happened to be Jews, didn't like Jesus because he threatened their power. Jesus was not the only non-Jewish person in the area but he became influential and threatened the priests' hold on the people. Jesus' death resulted from a political struggle as much as a religious one.
These priests were part of an influential and wealthy caste. They did not mingle as a group with ordinary Jews. A modern example can be found in the Hindus of India today where the caste system is alive and well and keeps people socially and economically separate. The low-caste Hindu in the street would have very little in common with high caste Hindu priests. To lump all Jews together for the action of a few wealthy Jews 2000 years ago would be the same as accusing all Iraqis of being psychopathic muderers because of the actions of Saddam Hussien and his sons.
One Jewish lawmaker, David Englin, who was sitting next to Hargove, rose up to condem Hargove's comments on Jews. He held up his 7-year son's photo to highlight the danger of poorly chosen words.
Furthermore, the persecution of African slaves lasted for centuries whereas the crucification occured once and Jews haven't persecuted Christians for thousands of years.
Had some whites enslaved and killed one black man thousands of years ago, then none of this would be a discussion - no matter the importance of the man. But the abduction, de-humanization, abuse, rape, selling and even murder of Africans and blacks lasted for centuries and the legacy of that persecution is being felt today.
The lawmaker who sits next to Hargrove - Del. David Englin, D-Alexandria - rose and in a trembling voice told the House that his Jewish grandparents fled Poland, "where they were driven from their homes by people who believed that we, as Jews, killed Christ."
Englin held up a wallet-size picture of his 7-year-old son, Caleb. "When words are put out by respected members of this body that could potentially hurt my family, I want everyone to understand the practical effects of those words," Englin said. "My 7-year-old son is more likely to be verbally attacked and physically attacked."
Hargove's response was to paternally rub the Englin's hand and say he was being "thin skinned."
Yes. He really did say that, to the shock and dismay of colleagues.
Hargove contends this Slavery Apology is just political correctness gone bad. Let's take a look at that.
Text of the Slavery Apology Bill
Ok, let's start with the bill, SJ332, sponsored by Democratic Senator Henry Marsh, which calls for a formal apology by Virgina for slavery. There is a similar resolution in the Virgina House by Democrat Donald McEachin. The full text of the bill is here (including the question of whether or not Texas should apologize for slavery as well). Let's focus on some key sections here:
SJ332: Involuntary servitude of Africans;
General Assembly to atone therefor and call for reconciliation.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 332
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 3, 2007
Atoning for the involuntary servitude of Africans and calling for reconciliation among all Virginians.
...
WHEREAS, an apology for centuries of brutal dehumanization and injustices cannot erase the past, but confession of the wrongs can speed racial healing and reconciliation and help African American and white citizens confront the ghosts of their collective pasts together; and
....
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby atone for the involuntary servitude of Africans and call for reconciliation among all Virginians; and, be it
Symbolic, formal apology. No reparations.
And that's it. There's nothing in the bill regarding reparations, establishment of quotas for blacks or minorities, and no accusation of anyone living of taking part in the slave trade.
Re-read that. No one living today is being accused of participating in, aiding, or promoting slavery. No one is being called a slaveowner nor are there any demands being made on the descendants of slaveowners.
The bill only calls for a formal apology and is entirely symbolic. No valuable Virginian funds will be transferred, there are no taxes to be collected for an "Apology Fund", and no one but the State is being accused of participating in slavery.
Make no mistake about it. This apology should only be a vehicle to create an open dialogue about race in America and introduce change into society. It is this part of the equation which I think causes so many Virginians and Americans to become defensive.
And some Virginians have reacted defensively. Here's one local comment:
My fore fathers migrated from Finland, and legally I might add, in the early 1900s They were mostly farmers, not slave owners. Don"t apologize for me! I am a white male, and live in Virginia, and have no guilt complex about slavery. And Do not lump me in as a slave owner catagory because i"m white. Now that is shameful. - Anonymous
I guess you really needed to add "legally", but that's a tangent. Again, sir, where does the bill accuse you and your Finnish ancestors of being slaveowners or supporting slavery? If you and family did not not participate in slavery and racial discrimination, then why do you feel the need to defend yourself?
This is a point sponsors of the bill have explicitly made:
"No one is asking any individual to apologize, because certainly there are no slaveholders alive today and there are no slaves alive today," said one sponsor, Del. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico County, whose great-grandfather was born a slave.
"But Virginia is alive and well, and Virginia was built on the backs of slaves, and Virginia's economy boomed because of slavery, and it is Virginia that ought to apologize," he said.
Had Hargove and some Virginians actually read the bill, they would know that. The bill only calls for the General Assembly of Virgina to apologize for past wrongs due to the state's participation in slavery.
I think it comes down to two key questions:
- Did the state of Virgina promote, encourage, and fight a civil war over slavery?
- Is slavery wrong?
If you answer both questions with a "yes" and the measure is entirely symbolic and requires nothing (literally) from you, then why would you have a problem with it?
What can possibly be the harm in the state of Virginia apologizing for its own actions which seriously harmed an entire community of Americans? Why do so many whites, especially Southern men and women, get so defensive about the apology?
White Guilt.
Why are many whites so defensive when it comes to the issue of slavery? I can only think that they feel accused of being somehow involved in slavery.
You know what? I hope to hell that whites get offended by that accusation, that they do get defensive about being associate with something so repugnant, criminal and ugly as slavery.
Anyone who's not offended to be linked to slavery is not a person I'd want to know.
So, yes, get angry. Take it personally. Cuss me out if I called you a slaveowner, because I really, really hope that you are as bothered by slavery as much as I, a minority, would be.
I mean, let's just all us get together and get pissed off as one voice because we can never EVER let any generation believe slavery wasn't all that bad.
And that's how we can prevent the re-emergence of slavery.
I for one do not believe there are any white slaveowners today in Virgina or anywhere in America. Nor do I believe the vast majority of whites even support slavery. The most popular talk show host among white, middle-class women is a black woman (Oprah). The membership in the KKK has declined to the point that KKK members fear for their own lives if they are found out. Their marches actually bring more people out to protest against them than the marchers themselves, and often those protesting the KKK are whites.
So the idea that the white community of today should be punished for the slavery instituted by their ancestors is off the mark in my opinion.
And it is an opinion echoed by the sponsors of the bill and the bill itself which does not seek to blame today's Virginians for the State's actions.
Calling it even.
However, does that mean we can just wash our hands clean of the whole thing and walk away? I will paraphrase (because I can't find the quote) a Texan here, President Lyndon B. Johnson, who stated, "You don't enslave a people for hundreds of years, free them and call it even."
If slavery ended almost 150 years ago, does that mean the effects of slavery ended in the 19th century as well? Did society suddenly say "Oh, we're so sorry" and start treating African Americans with respect and equality? Did racial discrimination end 150, 100, 50, 20, 10, ONE Year(s) ago?
If so, why did we need the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act less than 50 years ago? Why are blacks and minorities economically behind whites?
Why did we have MLK and the Civil Rights movement into the 60s? Why did we have segragated schools in everything but name well into - well, today even in some states? Interracial dating and marriages is more common now but people stared at mixed couples well into the 90s, if they don't do it today.
Why are children of black and white parents black?
If slavery was over decades ago, why is the black community one the most poor communities in the country? Are they really just lazy, dumb, and whining?
Or was the fabric of their community so thoroughly ripped apart that they need time to heal.
Some truth in Hargove's words?
Hargove used poorly chosen words and ideas even but there is a kernal of truth in what he states. A small one. Blacks and in fact whites - all of us have to move past the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination. It is killing us. Literally. If it's not the violence between communities, it's the anger that causes black on black crime and forms the pain in the hearts of men that sends them to their graves earlier and haunted.
Among men, blacks (28.5%) are about six times more likely than whites (4.4%) to be admitted to prison during their life. Among women, 3.6% of blacks and 0.5% of whites will enter prison at least once. (U.S. Department of Justice). Based on current rates of incarceration, an estimated 7.9% of black males compared to 0.7% of white males will enter State of Federal prison by the time they are age 20 and 21.4% of black males versus 1.4% of white males will be incarcerated by age 30. (U.S. Department of Justice). Some have noted that more black men are in prison in America than are in college. (The Black and White of Justice, Freedom Magazine, Volume 128)
The black community is understandly haunted by slavery and the legacy of slavery which exists even today in laws still on the books of Southern states. These laws aren't enforced anymore but they remind us it wasn't so long that they were enforced. We haven't even had the time to change the laws or the mentalities of lawmakers to take down those laws.
Has black community hurt itself at times? Of course.
The anger resulting from lack of opportunities and poverty which was itself caused by discrimination has consumed many young black men and a few friends I've known and know. And it has kept a few of them from more productive lives and many more from integrating with the larger community.
Ironically or perhaps not so, the anger resulting from discrimination has caused reverse-discrimination, mistrust, segregation, and violence against other communities including whites.
Do we really want this to continue? Does this really benefit America to constantly deal with this issue decade after decade? Do we really want our children burdened with the problems resulting from racial discrimination?
We have to stop this cycle of anger and guilt and accusations and counter-accusations.
How can we possibly do that without first apologizing for the cause of the pain?
Apologies ain't easy.
Apologies are not an easy thing. They require you to look deep inside yourself sometimes and see something that can be ugly. Sometimes it's there because you put it there and sometimes you inherited it. Whatever the case, it's still yours and you can own it or get rid of it.
Growing up, my mother always told me to be a man and apologize when I hurt someone. I used to get angry and defensive and even resentful, but it always felt better to apologize than to let that anger and stubborness harden inside me to the point where I'd turn into stone.
The apology restored my humanity and released my anger. This was true whether I was the one apologizing or apologized to. And, yes, it helped me to "get over it."
Slavery is a legacy which Martin Luther King understood very well had hurt and affected whites as well as blacks and all minorities.
This apology is not about blaming anyone. It's about moving forward and putting a painful past behind all Americans - white, black, brown, yellow, whatever.
And this is where Hargove and his supporters missed the whole point of the bill as conveyed in the title:
Atoning for the involuntary servitude of Africans and calling for reconciliation among all Virginians.
I'll repeat that: Reconcilliation of ALL Virginians.
So, Mr. Hargove, this isn't about "getting over it" as it is about healing and reconciliation of the Virginian (and American) family which was split centuries ago due a bitter family legacy.
And with your insensitive comments, you are ripped open wounds once again that were beginning to heal.