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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>Dear
Friends,</FONT><FONT face=Verdana> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>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.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>A copy is attached. (The format when printed will be different, but the
content will be the same.)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You can
also see it at </FONT><A href="http://www.massslaveryapology.org/"><FONT
face=Verdana color=#800080>www.massslaveryapology.org</FONT></A><FONT
face=Verdana>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(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.)</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>Readers of
color, we are interested in your feedback.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We would be honored to send you a copy of the printed version when it is
ready.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>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. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>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.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>What will we
do with the document?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While this is
an evolving process and we are figuring out our next steps as we go, reparations
will be our primary focus.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We plan
to share the apology, including the names of all signers, with interested
individuals and groups, and it will remain available at </FONT><A
href="http://www.massslaveryapology.org/"><FONT face=Verdana
color=#800080>www.massslaveryapology.org</FONT></A><FONT face=Verdana>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We believe that the more names are
listed as signers, the more powerful the statement will be.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>Our email
address is </FONT><A href="mailto:email@massslaveryapology.org"><FONT
face=Verdana color=#800080>email@massslaveryapology.org</FONT></A><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>If you would
like to be listed as a signer, please email us with your name and the town and
state you live in.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Names received
by January 20, 2009, will be included in the first printing. Names received
after January 20 will be included in later printings.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All names received will be listed on the
website.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>If you would
like to receive a print copy of the finished statement, send us your mailing
address.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>Please let us
know if you have any questions or comments. We hope you will share this email
with others who might be interested.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face=Verdana> <o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>In
solidarity,</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Verdana>Sharin Alpert,
Teegrey Iannuzzi, Annie Keough </FONT></P></FONT></DIV>
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