Why an apology now? If you want to move forward in a productive manner in any relationship, an apology is a nice place to start towards healing past hurts. It may not change much, but perhaps it just acknowledges the truth, that something was done that was wrong and/or hurtful.

The relationship between America and black Americans DOES need some healing.

No, it may not be any white person’s fault that is alive today, but it decreases the sting from that slap in the face that black people have continued to get from the day after Juneteenth. The message given on June 20th in 1865 was you’re ALL free so now just get over it.

You may be thinking what I am thinking. What took this apology so long?

The government has resisted giving an official apology for fear that the reparation train would roll into town and black people would say “show me the moo-lah”. (yes, I say moo-lah)

Is it reparation time?

Is it time for black people to get that big fat reparation check that Dave Chappelle joked about? Am I going to see black people lined up at the Cadillac dealership or the Apple store spending all of their dough? (yes, I still say dough)

Is the government finally going to give us what they promised us 146 years ago? Do I need to make room in the driveway for live stock or do I need to move to my free 40 acres of land located in Pelahatchie, Mississippi somewhere?

What kind of reparations could make things better?

In my opinion, the only reparations that could be given in this country that may right some of the wrongs of the past would be education. Slaves were denied an education during slavery, so let’s start there. Provide free college education, regardless of economic status, to the ancestors of slaves.

Truth be told… this country should have given black Americans an apology a long time ago and reparations should have come right after the chains were cut.

At this point an apology doesn’t move me and reparations will probably never happen. I do care about the truth. I want to make sure that history is correct and that people know that this country was built on the blood, sweat, tears, backs, lives of black people. Just an acknowledgement…maybe some credit for our contribution. It will probably never happen.

But remember…its Always Love.

Tell me what you think.

Do you care about an apology for slavery from the government?

Do you want reparations?

Do the ancestors of slaves deserve some type of reparation?

ReNina Minter is a former elementary school teacher who followed her passion and earned a Masters in Clinical Psychology. Minter is now a Certified Life Coach. Check out her website at www.CoachReNina.com. Her editorials are exclusive to Urban Thought Collective.

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