America has a tendency to look at the past through rose-coloured glasses and gloss over the negative. Why do White police officers still stop Black men driving expensive cars more often than they stop White men driving the same cars? Why is the American prison population predominately Black? Why do more Black people live in poverty and have less access to health insurance and education than White people? The answers to those questions can only be found if you are willing to look the past directly in the eye and accept it and its consequences.
Saying that people don't want to be separated by the divide of race any more is all very well and good, but they are empty words when the reality is that people are divided by race and nothing is being done to rectify it. There are very real fears on both sides of this divide that can't just be glossed over by cheery words and optimism. You can't just wish away history or whisk it under the rug as if it never happened.
For the next five years Justice Harry LaForme will be traveling across Canada and examining over a hundred years of Canadian history in the hopes of finding a way to resolve the anger and recriminations that exist on both sides of the issue when it comes to the history of the Residential Schools in Canada. It's not going to be an easy task for many reasons, and it will open a lot of old wounds that some people might have preferred left alone. But when there is still rot in a wound the only way to prevent it from festering is to air it out.
You might want to think about giving Justice LaForme a call one of these days, Mr. Obama, and find out what kind of work it takes to bridge these divides of yours. America might be ready for you as a President, but are you ready for America's history?
Article comments
1 - Zedd
Richard,
How human of you. Thank you.
Obama knows exactly what Wright is saying, he just cant acknowledge it, not in a land where there has never been a TRC or ever will be one, just over acted Hollywood approximations of simple minded theatrical Negros whaling about their mama and babies; no depth and no humanity revealed.
2 - Malloumi
It's a wonderful insight into what was done in both Canada and the United States to their own citizens. The TRC is timely welcomed to heal past wounds. And I believe also it takes a person like Obama at the White House Office to bring about this sort of TRC.
3 - Honour
Mr. Marcus: While I am very heartened and glad to read about the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, I feel a huge let-down when I see you have (unwittingly?) omitted the Native Peoples of the U.S. from your article. It would have been a natural, and obviously long-overdue, step to carry your picture of the experiences of Canada's Indians over into at least a token accounting of those of our original tribes here in America, and to include their needs for Truth and Reconciliation (I like to say those words - I think they should remain capitalized) alongside those of our black brothers and sisters.
I am so weary of this continuing widespread absentmindedness regarding those red people who have suffered every bit as much of deceipt, abuse and neglect at the hands of European invaders as have other minorities. Actually, their plight is still the most overlooked of serious problems among our citizens, in every state of the union - and continues today much as it has for hundreds of years. Please remember them as you (hopefully) expand your purview in future articles.
I feel compelled to add that there seems, herein, to be an undertone of judgement toward Mr. Obama that is unfair and undeserved; unfair in that no one should be held accountable for the choices of another (Wright), and undeserved because Mr. Obama has worked for twenty years for the betterment of minorities and the underpriveleged in community organizing and legislation in the areas of civil liberties, education, food programs, ethics reform, healthcare for kids, earned income-tax credit, etc., etc.. He has promised to create a position of Native American Advisor in his cabinet, and also to host an annual national Council of Tribal Leaders. Of course, it is ridiculous to assume that he would not also include African Americans in every aspect of his administration's program of healing and change. Why do you make this presumption? What are you in judgement of here? What are you afraid of?
Please be fair, help us to support the first real light of hope to come into the presidential election process in 40 years. We desperately need him. If, in your writing, you are truly invested in helping to create positive change in the world, then you must recognize this - and rather than project your fears - lend your support. I thank you.