There is something profoundly contradictory - and sad - about suggesting that any amount of money, or any form of material compensation, could adequately pay for the commodification of our ancestors
No Apology and Repartion Wanted for Slavery
Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas
One observes that a growing number of Bahamians have joined the bandwagon of those seeking an apology from the King for the enslavement of Africans. For what it is worth, in my view, The Bahamas should seek no such apology.
An apology given under duress is no apology at all. And infinitely more significant than that should be our unquestioned demonstration that we do not need an expression of regret from anyone to make us feel better about ourselves or be better as a people.
Many of us know that our now deceased ancestors would be disappointed if they knew we were seeking this course. For instance, I knew my grandfathers well enough to know that if they had received cheques in the mail from England representing so called reparations, neither would even open the envelope.
They would return them to the sender. There is something profoundly contradictory - and sad - about suggesting that any amount of money, or any form of material compensation, could adequately pay for the commodification of our ancestors.
Let us not get distracted. Closer to home and far more controllable and potentially impactful is the pursuit of good governance. Some leaders make demands on the King for historic wrongs while refusing to respond to requests for current actions.
