The Daily Press, the Hampton Roads newspaper covering the Peninsula, printed an op-ed today on the slavery resolution adopted by the General Assembly in the last session and being copied around the nation.
The country has got the slavery-apology bug, and Virginia can take a great deal of credit for it.
[…]
Under the guise of an apology, we quietly asked black Virginians to accept the commonwealth’s sorrow for something that it apparently had no power or control to fix. Our legacy is clear: Our noncommittal language has appeared in the proposals and final resolution language of other states. Apparently, Arkansas and Alabama are also filled with “profound regret” for slavery.
[…]
Let’s be clear: Aliens from outer space didn’t descend upon us years ago and require that the commonwealth of Virginia enslave generations of Africans as property in order to grow its economy. No godlike hand forced Virginia to not only believe in slavery but to lead the charge in fighting fellow American states to ensure its survival.
No, these policies all came from real actions in which Virginia’s General Assembly took part.
At a minimum, Virginia’s General Assembly should have taken responsibility for its culpability in slavery and acknowledged its power to provide a repair.
While I mostly agree with the writer, I wonder why this op-ed is appearing now as opposed to last spring when the resolution was being considered. At this point, it is water under the bridge. The General Assembly crafted language that was palatable to those who feel no responsibility for the continuing bias that exists as a legacy of slavery. Of course other legislatures were going to copy it. It was the proverbial “get-out-of-jail free” card. Neither the Virginia legislature or any of the others is going to revisit this. Like Libby’s commutation, it’s a done deal.
The only thing that we, as black Virginians, can hope is that by expressing regret, the dismantling of racism, the true legacy of slavery, will continue.
Which brings me to the story of the The White Tree, which I was alerted to last night by Peter at Tidewater Musings. Read it – and then explain to me how I’m supposed to “just get over it.”
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
I’m so glad you brought up Loving vs Virginia from my county of Caroline.
We have a CA Attorney Harvey Latney, a Black lawyer.
He’s run unopposed for 28 years since the Loving case. However there has always been a lot of controversy about his handling of cases. He has a nickname. Nolle Prosq. Latney.
Well, his secretary Shelia Boone, you may have heard of her, of 28 years has been indicted on fraud. Stealing money from Mr. Latney’s estate clients. She was allowed to sign Mr. Latney’s name and conducted business with the clients without Mr. Latney present. Ms. Boone is not an Attorney.
But Mr. Latney has publicly stated he knew nothing about it. He also stated it cast no shadow on the CA’s office in Caroline. Hmmm.
There are many more instances of this type of behavior over the years by Mr. Latney and Ms. Boone, however this is the first one concrete evidence that has been gathered.
The white corrupt Sheriff’s Caroline has had in the past were ignorant and made sure crimes were kept secret. A joint agreement of sorts between the Black CA and the corrupt white sheriff. In return the courthouse had a revolving door with the same faces going in and out.
The judge in her case stated he knew Mr. Latney and would that cause any conflicts in the case. Both attorneys denied it would be a conflict. Hmmm.
Then we could go to Gary, Indiana, or Dafur, or D.C and I’m sure many other places across the country.
As a stated in another reply no one’s hands are clean. Speak out against all corruption and injustice if you want to be taken seriously. Otherwise, it’s a continuation of the race game.
American voters are in power. Not white voters, not black voters, AMERICAN voters. Vote out corruption and you will start to get justice.
All I can do is lead you to the answer. You have to CHOOSE to act.
“[N]either the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen onto any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.”
Samuel Adams
VJP- maybe you didn’t read Mr. Collier’ posts?
Here a very important quote and answer to your reply about going off the deep end:
“As Blacks have lived within a society that systematically blocks their chance to succeed, their attentions and resources have twisted to the role of ‘spoiler’, even if it means going down with the ship too. This must change.”
That’s what enrages me! Divide, and destroy because your angry and want revenge!
…………..http://actingwhite.blogspot.com/2007/02/virginia-apologizes-for-role-in-slavery.html
It’s too late for apologies, but not because Whites lack sincerity in regretting the evils of slavery, or that Blacks aren’t deserving. Rather, the country cannot afford the continuing distraction of the guilt exchange it encourages. Blacks too often default to moral strategies of good-and-evil followed by guilt tactics of advancement, which have repeatedly shown themselves ineffective.
The dance goes like this. Whites say they are sorry. Blacks ask what the group will be given to make amends. Whites offer some form of compensation. Blacks accept it, while watching their plight continue, only to say ‘not enough, try again’. Whites retreat, asking themselves when what they do will be enough.
The legacy of slavery, and the racism that followed, is broken motivation in Blacks. Too many of the group lack the fundamental drive to create something from nothing, starting with education. As Blacks have lived within a society that systematically blocks their chance to succeed, their attentions and resources have twisted to the role of ‘spoiler’, even if it means going down with the ship too. This must change.
Whites and Blacks need new leadership to acknowledge these difficult truths and stop playing the shame and blame game. Blacks don’t need to ‘get over slavery’, they need to put it in its relative context. Whites don’t need to amend their ancestors, they need to stop justifying insidious biases, derived from today’s disparities.
Arguing over apologies, state by state, is a waste of time.
James C. Collier
P.S. VJP- if your goal is to divide, destroy, and alienate, you are succeeding.
On the other hand if your goal is JUSTICE, Education and genuine reform, maybe you need to try another tactic.
Once again, did you read The White Tree? If you had, you wouldn’t be going on about apologies. And if you read my post, you wouldn’t be going on about apologies.
You, Tom, are the one doing the dividing.
Yes VJP I read the post.
That is why I linked to Alyson Hymes post last week about the same issue.
http://hymes.wordpress.com/2007/07/04/racist-justice-system-alive-and-well-in-jena-louisiana/
Racist Justice System Alive and Well in Jena, Louisiana
July 4th, 2007
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-jena_witt.1jun29,1,1872156.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
[copywrighted material removed]
Along with the other post I offered you Alyson posted.
Is this not the title of your post:
“DP on slavery resolution”
I’m just commenting on something YOU BROUGHT UP!
I thought it was VERY educational.
As usual, Tom, you go completely off-topic. Try addressing the blatant racism in The White Tree post. Try addressing what I said about the resolution. (DP, in case you didn’t realize, is The Daily Press.) I panned the timing of the article. What part of my post do you not get?
And, as usual, Tom’s rantings force me to close this post.