NJ considers apology for slavery Part 2 - 1.3.2008.2

Continued from NJ considers apology for slavery Part 1 ...

Now as of today, Virginia, Alabama, and Maryland have each announced “profound regret” for the slavery they allowed in their past.. North Carolina has announced “profound contrition”. Georgia discussed the issue last year, with the disapproval of Governor Perdue. And there is Missouri and New Jersey as stated above.

As for all the Presidential candidates of 2008, only Dennis Kucinich has ever mentioned the issue, and expressed a need for the nation to apologize and make reparations. The ONLY one.

This is pitiful.

Name one thing in America that has not been built with the foundation of slave labor. Name one company, in existence since at least 1865, which has not benefited from slavery. Even JP Morgan and its shareholders acknowledged the connection.

“We apologize to the American public, and particularly to African-Americans, for the role that Citizens Bank and Canal Bank played during that period," said the company on its website. "Although we cannot change the past, we are committed to learning from and emerging stronger because of it."

In addition to the apology, JP Morgan created a $5 million scholarship for African Americans in Louisiana.”

Please notice that JP Morgan APOLIGIZED. Not regret - an intelligent (and/or emotional) dislike for personal past acts and behaviors. Not contrition - sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation.

The fact is that even now, some 400 years after the first documented slave was forced to America, not one American governmental body has apologized for their part in slavery. None. They are sorry for its existence, and upset that untold millions were slaughtered, but they are not losing sleep over it. In fact many are fighting against it.

There are many like

“The disappointment comes from the statements “I'm not sure what we ought to be apologizing for” voiced by Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson and others.”

Continued in Part 3...

JP Morgan Chase on Slavery apology Part 2 - 5.15.2007.2

Continued from JP Morgan Chase sharholders vote on Slavery apology - 5.15.2007.1 Part 1...

Similar thoughts were held by Pete Flaherty, President of National Legal and Policy Center, who said,

“If JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon were alive 200 years ago and owned slaves, the apology would be appropriate. Otherwise it is about as cynical and as hollow as you can get.”

For its part JP Morgan did not back down. The company sought to have this resolution blocked by the SEC. That failed, but the JP Morgan Chase held the position issued in 2005 as stated in its proxy. The vote took place today during the Annual Meeting which started at 10am.

As stated by Mr. Joe Evangelisti, representative of JP Morgan Chase, to me directly via phone, the resolution only garnered approximately 2 ½% of votes. This resolution failed, and I commend both JP Morgan and its shareholders for that fact.

At a time in the nation where we are rightly punishing individuals that use the public airwaves to attack innocent citizens with crude racial slurs, and are taking to task entertainers that are using that same public radio medium (along with ringtones, music videos, and other mediums) to spew equally offensive comments under the pretext of artistic expression, we must stay aware. While some 97 ½% of votes stood behind JP Morgan Chase, the balance of the voters did not. Politicians continue to reject the thought of an apology or reparation. Legislation continues to be stagnant on addressing the past. The United States government still has never made a public apology, while apologies and reparations to Native American Indians and Japanese Americans have been.

This is the quiet, seldom spoken fact of American history. It is a lesson in humanity that we cannot learn from since we refuse to even address it. Some of us, from every creed and race, have looked in the mirror and come to terms with the past. But as seen in the need for a vote at JP Morgan Chase today, some have not.

The cost for a lack of vigilance is more than mere words, in my opinion. The stakes have not changed. Racism and the means to divide our citizens continue to exist, merely waiting for a time when few are watching to take root and prosper. In a world of soundbites and 30 second news clips it’s easy to lose sight of what is happening. But if we do lose sight, if resolutions are brought and commendable acts are rescinded, we travel a path to repeat history. That path is painful and detrimental to everyone, not just those targeted initially with injustice.

I’m happy to state that JP Morgan Chase stood their ground, that the shareholders in majority agreed, and that the apology and scholarship continue to exist. This is another step to a better, greater America in my opinion. Now let’s take another step.

This is what I think, what do you think?

JP Morgan Chase sharholders vote on Slavery apology - 5.15.2007.1

It’s amazing what a couple of years will bring. The public and investors alike are quick to forget so many items in this world of instant news, viral videos, Youtube and 24/7 cable network news. So many items are glanced over, missed, or forgotten in the attempt to get to the next thing that the impact of what’s happening rarely touches us. But some of those items come back and the impact continues to reverberate.

One such case is on subjects that I have discussed often in various posts in my Vass and Black Entertainment USA blogs. Reparations and apologies for slavery in America. The various posts [What Georgia House Speaker Richardson should apologize for - 3.9.2007.1, The surprise about broadcast television - 3.14.2007.2, ect.] reflect my views, and I think the views of many – whether Black Americans, Latino/Hispanic, White or purple for that matter. Many believe that the wounds inflicted to create this nation cannot ever heal if we ignore and hide from the past. Those wounds affect this nation to this day, whether it pops to the surface as the Rodney King riots, the Civil Rights Movement, the murders of Sean Bell and others, or the comments by Mr. Don Imus and other radio DJ’s.

Today the conversation of Reparations and apology took another step forward at JP Morgan Chase. Actually what happened today started in 2005, as a result of actions from 1831 – 1865, so I will recap that information. On January 20, 2005 JP Morgan issued an apology, in compliance with Chicago ordinances requiring the disclosure of slave ownership, for their predecessor banks from the abovementioned time period where slaves were taken as collateral on loans. The predecessor banks, Citizens Bank and Canal Bank in Louisiana, did take ownership of 1250 slaves.

A memo on this was released by ten-Chairman William Harrison and then-President James Dimon,

“We apologize to the American public, and particularly to African-Americans, for the role that Citizens Bank and Canal Bank played during that period," said the company on its website. "Although we cannot change the past, we are committed to learning from and emerging stronger because of it.”

In addition to the apology, JP Morgan created a $5 million scholarship for African Americans in Louisiana.

This commendable act by JP Morgan Chase should be the end of that story. It also should have been the motivation for other companies and states. Sadly this was not the case as lawmakers like Frank Hargrove, and Georgia House Speaker Richardson believe that no such action is either needed or justified. In addition it would seem that a portion of the shareholders at JP Morgan felt the same.

Deneen Borelli led a charge to have the apology, and the scholarship, rescinded in the 2007 Annual Sharholder meeting today. According to Deneen Borelli,

“It's absurd for someone to apologize for the transgressions of others committed hundreds of years ago. Slavery was an abomination and blemish on our Nation's history. JPMorgan Chase's apology for slavery, along with a $5 million donation for a scholarship fund, are the fruits of a shakedown. It is the looting of shareholder assets and sets a terrible precedent.”

Continued in Part 2...