The N&R editorial page gives us a couple of reasons to say “we’re sorry” for slavery.
The lead editorial says:
We are sorry.
Two bills in the General Assembly would say so, officially, regarding the state’s role in the institution of slavery…..
Some may contend these statements are empty gestures with no tangible actions or policies behind them. But there’s still something to be said for a collective statement of conscience — an official acknowledgment that this state, as an enduring institution, protected, preserved and profited from a practice that was morally indefensible…..
As for its lasting impact, an apology in and of itself wouldn’t improve race relations or provide new jobs. And, no, none of us was alive during the shameful heyday of “the Peculiar Institution.” But we are here now, and we have inherited this state’s history and traditions, the good ones and the not so good.
If we want it to be, facing up to past mistakes can be as uplifting as celebrating past accomplishments. And probably more insightful.
There is honesty in it. And honor.
An op-ed by Lionel Roberts echoes those sentiments:
So, would a drive-by apology help the descendents of African American slaves walking to the bus stop? I am not sure. But there should be some attempt at breaking the link between inferiority and black skin, which slavery formed in the minds of Americans. A formal apology could be a step in the right direction.
But Forsyth Rep. Larry Brown says he doesn’t have any reason to apologize:
“I don’t think it’s necessary,” said Brown, whose district includes Kernersville and Walkertown. “Nobody in our generation has been guilty of it. I understand what people of color have gone through and the hardships they’ve faced.”
Why apologize for something you haven’t done?
