Forgiveness and Reparations

I am Sorry

How does forgiveness even work? Can you atone for something you did not do? Can you ask for forgiveness from someone who has never wronged you? And if you can, under what circumstances does that make sense?

I am not sure that present-day White people owe present-day Blacks an apology. They did not personally capture, torture, or enslave Africans. Most of the actual perpetrators are long gone. Only a few colonial veterans are still alive, and even fewer are capable of asking for forgiveness. Some may not even understand why they should apologize to people who were not alive during the era of slavery and colonization. They are not entirely wrong because forgiveness is more than just words but does it only truly works when the wrongdoer and the wronged are directly involved?

If we wanted to settle old scores properly, we would need a meeting between every European war veteran and African freedom fighter. Only then could we declare that peace has been made however,there has to be a way to make amends.

Everyone Apologizes?

And while we are at it, should all Africans apologize to each other as well? Slavery, murders, and other evils existed in Africa long before the Europeans arrived. Evil is universal. The Europeans just did it on a larger scale because they had better weapons. If Africans had guns first, history might have looked the same. By the time Europeans came looking for resources and markets, Africa was still developing its own systems. The result was a perfect storm for mass exploitation.

The Apology Debate

At the end of the day, nobody owes anybody an apology for the sins of someone else except the actual oppressors,right? The nations and lineages that directly benefited from slavery, colonization, and theft have a responsibility. Words alone will not erase centuries of exploitation. Written apologies, the return of stolen property, and financial reparations are what could begin to make a difference. Until nations take tangible steps to repair the damage, forgiveness is just a polite fiction.

The Bigger Picture

Waiting for apologies is not enough. The focus should be on reparations, compensation, and building meaningful relationships. Words alone will never heal centuries-old wounds. History shaped the world, and only active efforts from the oppressors can begin to fix the damage.