Just what are you saying? Why is it such a bad thing to apologize for slavery? Do you think slavery ought to be reinstated?
Gabe:
I will not express an opinion pro or con on whether New Jersey should offer an apology for slavery. Certainly residents in New Jersey engaged in the detestable practice of slave trading and slaveholding—more so in East New Jersey than West New Jersey. The presence of Dutchmen and the lack of a dominating influence by the Society of Friends accounts for two reasons, among many others, why East Jerseyans held many more in slavery than their West Jersey counterparts. There are surely some descendants of these slaves—both in East and West New Jersey—still residing within New Jersey today, although the vast majority of African Americans presently living in the state had parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents who migrated northward from the South during the early and mid-twentieth century.
However, there are two things that trouble me about the law that the legislature passed and the governor signed:
1. The bill’s originator was a Black lawmaker; this strikes me as somewhat odd and awkward. It is akin to someone going out and buying themselves a birthday gift and then handing it to you, asking you to present it to them. To feel more genuine about the apology as a state resident, I think a White legislator should have drafted and sponsored the bill.
2. Even more troubling is that the bill came out of the Appropriations Committee. Despite language from the bill's sponsor to the contrary, I can’t help but think that reparations are not far behind since the Appropriations Committee—the committee charged with allocating state funds—released the bill for approval. This state can ill-afford to pay anyone anything, but I think we will see such payments coming within two or three years based on the apology bill being passed and signed.
I hope I am wrong, but the trust train for Trenton politicians derailed a long time ago and I don't see anyone placing that train back on the tracks anytime in the near future.
Best regards,
Jerseyman