OOPS! I posted the same question before but I had sleep in my eyes. The Jews have a day of rememberance for those killed in concentration camps. And Jews around the world acknowledge this day. Should we have a day of rememberance for the 1 million Africans killed in the middle passage from Africa to America to become slaves? Perhaps we should also remember those who were killed on plantations and for running away. What do you think?

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2001

Answers

Interesting question. I think a Day of Remembrance for those who died in slavery is a excellent idea. This should also embrace all slaves worldwide, both African and other ethnic groups who have at some time in history been enslaved. For example, during WWII many of our soldiers, US POWs, were enslaved by the Japanese. Also, Africans were sold in South America and many other places worldwide.

Let me also suggest this: The Passover of Jews [Exodus 12:27] celebrate the Lord passing over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, and their delivery from slavery in Egypt. Therefore, in the US, we ought to also celebrate God's delivery of us out of slavery. I would suggest a series of days, each day for a specific event [Middle Passage for example], and ending with a High and Holy Worship celebrating our Freedom. We have such a day in Texas, Juneteenth. The Juneteenth is spreading around the world, no doubt carried initially by military and the migration of blacks to the west and north in the past century. Good idea, but we have to celebrate the freedom too.

Blessings, Pasto paris

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2001

Rev. Paris as usual you bring up good suggestions. One of the reasons I brought up the question is that the topic of reparations was on 60 minutes several weeks ago. And there are many people who do not understand why there is a need for reparations. Let me make it clear I am not in favor of reparations. But I do think if we had a day to commemorate those killed in slavery and as you suggest Rev. Paris our freedom. I think it would help people understand the origins of racism. We do not have concentration camps, but we do have shackles and journals and other memorabilia. I also think it important to acknowledge the work of Abolishnists. In my town every year there is a memorial service by mainline protestant churches for jewish holocaust victims. And every year they do a liturgy asking for forgiveness. I am the only Black clergy person in my town and I have never been invited by the churches. The Jewish community has always been my biggest supporters and I love them dearly. It has always baffled me how they could understand how evil the jewish holocaust was and not ask forgiveness for slavery.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2001

Recognizing a day would be a start. There are still such after effects as a result of slavery. To admit you are wrong and ask for forgiveness is two different things. Forgiveness denotes action. If I have wronged you, and have ask for your forgiveness, that means that to the best of my ability I must rectify the wrong that has been done.

If there is a day chosen to recognize those that were killed or died as a result of slavery. It should state it is also a National day of forgiveness.

The period of slavery is too long to adequately support the idea of reparations; but perhaps on this day Scholarships could be awarded, or African Americans could receive some type of benefit.

In Christ, Carmen

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2001

The issue of forgiveness for slavery - Those who enslaved us, the slavemasters. are the only ones that can seek forgiveness for that sin. If they did not seek God's forgiveness before they died, then they will and have received judgement for that sin. Case closed.

Does the descendents of slavemasters need to seek forgiveness from the descendents of slaves? I say no.

I did not choose my parents, therefore I am not responsible for their sins. Others, descendents of the slavemasters, did not choose their parents and are not responsible for their sins. At least one denomination seems to beleive that we can do something about the sins of our ancestors, but I don't subscribe to that.

Will white folk seeking forgiveness from black folk help either black or white folk? I don't think so. The need to be forgiven and the need to have someone ask for forgiveness or the need to have someone accept the wrongness of slavery is internal rather than external and I consider spiritual rather than physical. Satan is lying to both black and whites; only the Spirt of God can heal the internal brokeness of both black and white.

Will reparations help black folk? No, I don't think that will help either. The bitterness created by our government paying reparations to black folk will only serve to further divide the country based on color and again, Satan is the winner while both black and white lose.

I think someone ought to make this forgiveness aseparate issue on this board.

Blessing,

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2001

I am aware that the guilty parties are dead and can not ask for forgiveness. But there are still after effects of slavery. The stereotype and injustice is still going on today. How can you recognize the those who lost their lives, without mentioning the wrong that was done. If you don't tell the whole story, then a day set aside to remember them, just becomes another day on the calendar. If America (as a whole) is indeed sorry, then some type of gesture or action needs to be made, along with the day to recognize the dead.

I think it should be a positive day. One filled with workshops or conferences across the United States on how this could have been avoided and proactive projects in place to try to ensure that it will never happen again.

In Christ, Carmen

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2001

Dear Rev. Rogers,

I think that you have an excellent idea! In Richmond, the baptist ministerial alliance have been having a special Emancipation Proclamation service in January for over 20 years. I attended this years service where Dr. Kenney, the Dean of the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University delivered the sermon. During this service, I thought about how black people in this country have had a close relationship with God over the decades. I also thought about how our ancestors in the midst of the brutality of slavery accepted God. Yet it seems that too many of us black folk are distancing themselves from the memory of what God has done for our ancestors. I am where I am today not so much because of hard work. I am where I am today because of my ancestors' prayers and faith. I have often wondered why they did not give up their lives as slaves. We exists because of their sacrifices and God's grace. Yes Rev. Rogers it would be an excellent idea for us to incorporate special services of thanksgiving to God for what he did for our slave ancestors.

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2001