Apologizing for slavery won't fix the racial gap

Missouri State Rep. Talibdin El-Amin of St. Louis wants Missouri to be among the first states in the nation to officially apologize for slavery. He has filed a resolution in the Missouri House that says, in part "an apology for centuries of brutal dehumanization and injustices cannot ease the past, but confession of the wrongs can speed racial healing and reconciliation."

I've honestly tried to avoid writing this column because to oppose the notion of an apology for slavery would surely be viewed as racist and bigoted by many within the minority community. I am neither. But the issue of race is such an incendiary topic in our society that most would rather simply ignore the discussion. Not me.

If I thought for one second that a sincere and official apology for the barbaric issue of slavery would somehow magically heal all wounds, I would sign on without hesitation. But it's pure folly to think one simple act would once and for all resolve the differences.

Rep. El-Amin needs to understand that my views are representative of the overwhelming majority of Americans. I have not lived during the 140 years that slavery was prevalent in our state. Nor has my father. Nor my grandfather. Nor my great-grandfather. If you actually trace it, my great-

great-grandfather was but a child when slavery was abolished. So, in my family, you would have to trace back to my great-great-great-grandfather to arrive at the time of slavery. So am I being asked to apologize for the potential actions of that distant gentleman?

Don't misunderstand. If an apology is required, then let us be the first to make that step.

But before we apologize, can we examine the issues of affirmative action and hiring quotas. I was under the mistaken impression that those two major government actions were to at least partially right many of the wrongs directed toward minorities in the past. So does an official apology eliminate the need for these two preferential policies?

Here's what I believe. I believe an apology is simply a smoke-screen for the larger issue of reparations. That notion says that the government should financially reward the descendants of slavery for the wrongs committed 175 years ago.

"Reparations require black Americans to embrace a self-image of weakness and take on the cloak of a broken people. It asks contemporary black Americans to cash in on the exploitation of long-dead slaves by long-dead slave masters." Those are the words of Juan Williams in his wonderful book "Enough." The book should be mandatory reading because it captures the truth about current race relations like none I have ever read. As a black man, Williams has the credentials to say the words that I and others like me cannot.

But I'll take it one step beyond. If I truly thought the concept of reparations would finally end this debate, I would even favor that radical notion. Yet once again, it would not.

I suspect the apology resolution will find limited support. To some that will signal victory; to others, defeat. Regardless it will matter little what actions are taken today to address an issue long relegated to the history books. A defeat for this resolution will not widen the racial gap any more than acceptance of this resolution would close the gap.