[Antiracism] Apology for Slavery

[SHARIN ALPERT]

Dear Friends, 

 

We would like to invite people of European descent to join us in a special project. It represents something of grand importance – if healing racism is important to you.

 

We are three friends, all white, living in western Massachusetts. Since 2004, with guidance from African American and Native American activists/educators, we have been writing an apology for slavery, and it is now ready to be printed. We invite white readers to join us as signers.  A copy is attached. (The format when printed will be different, but the content will be the same.)  You can also see it at www.massslaveryapology.org.  (If the attachment and link in this post don’t work, please email and we will reply with the attachment and a link to the web site.)

 

Readers of color, we are interested in your feedback.  We would be honored to send you a copy of the printed version when it is ready.

 

We recognize that while we are not individually responsible for the great wrongs of slavery, we are responsible for ending a system that gives clear benefit and preference to whites at the expense of people of color. People of color have told us that healing the wounds of our collective past cannot occur without a sincere acknowledgement of those wrongs. 

 

We recognize, as well, that an apology is just the start of undoing the racism that currently is devastating many communities of color in the United States and elsewhere.

 

What will we do with the document?  While this is an evolving process and we are figuring out our next steps as we go, reparations will be our primary focus.  We plan to share the apology, including the names of all signers, with interested individuals and groups, and it will remain available at www.massslaveryapology.org.  We believe that the more names are listed as signers, the more powerful the statement will be.

 

Our email address is email at massslaveryapology.org 

 

If you would like to be listed as a signer, please email us with your name and the town and state you live in.  Names received by January 20, 2009, will be included in the first printing. Names received after January 20 will be included in later printings.  All names received will be listed on the website.

 

If you would like to receive a print copy of the finished statement, send us your mailing address.

 

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments. We hope you will share this email with others who might be interested.

 

In solidarity,

Sharin Alpert, Teegrey Iannuzzi, Annie Keough 


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