The Appropriate Apology

I have seen more apologies on social media recently for years of abuse to those with color. The thing is I know the people who are apologizing. They personally have nothing to apologize for because they treat all people equally. Some of you may be listening, shaking your head in disappointment, because “Troy doesn’t get it. He’s privileged.” That accusation is made with so much ignorance it doesn’t require me to defend. I’m using the literal definition of the word ignorance and not using it in a negative way. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge or information.

We as individuals are responsible for our own actions. Apologizing for something we aren’t responsible for doing, I think is the wrong action to take. The question is, as an American, am I responsible for our wicked history of slavery. No. In fact, if I was there in person, watching George Floyd suffering under the knee of an officer, I would have walked up to him and asked him to stop. If he didn’t, I would have pressed further and probably have been arrested. When change comes from the top or law makers it’s short lived. Change needs to come from each individual showing love and acceptance for the future.

The number one most effective element of an apology is accepting responsibility. In Miami, as protestors approached police, the police kneeled and asked for forgiveness. This was a powerful moment. They were accepting responsibility and had every right to accept responsibility with the amount of police violence we’ve all seen.

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