Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared April 2024 as Confederate Heritage Month in Mississippi, keeping alive a 31-year-old tradition that began in 1993. Beauvoir, the Biloxi, Miss., the museum and historic home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, announced the proclamation in a Facebook post on Friday, April 12.
“Whereas, as we honor all who lost their lives in this war, it is important for all Americans to reflect upon our nation’s past, to gain insight from our mistakes and successes, and to come to a full understanding that the lessons learned yesterday and today will carry us through tomorrow if we carefully and earnestly strive to understand and appreciate our heritage and our opportunities which lie before us,” says the governor’s proclamation, which is dated April 12. “Now, therefore, I, Tate Reeves, Governor of the State of Mississippi, hereby proclaim the month of April 2024 as Confederate Heritage Month in the State of Mississippi.”
Beauvoir is owned and operated by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a neo-Confederate organization that promotes “Lost Cause” ideology, a revisionist history that whitewashes the Confederacy’s racist past and downplays the role of slavery in the Civil War. Beauvoir annually receives $100,000 from the State of Mississippi for development and maintenance.
Since Governor Reeves will never do so, I apologize to every descendant of the Atlantic slave trade on his bigoted behalf.
Don’t apologize for him, am apology means an acceptance of wrong doing and am effort to improve and repair the damages. This dipshit isn’t going to do that.
I’m apologizing because apologies need to be made. Repeatedly. As far as I know, I don’t have any ancestors that were involved in the Atlantic slave trade, but I have shared in the societal benefits that resulted and I am apologizing because of it. I’m saying it’s on his behalf specifically because he will never do so.
Most descendants of slave owners don’t want performative apologies “on behalf of” anyone. Reparations, restructuring public policy, strengthening the social safety net, increasing opportunities for them to grow their wealth…yes. Apologies, no.
Talk is cheap, and apologies are the cheapest, especially from individuals who are not responsible for their hardships and don’t hold the power to undo them who apologize for their ancestors out of embarrassment. Instead, educate yourself incessantly and advocate ferociously on behalf of the most oppressed.
You can advocate and apologize.
Apologizing when you are not the one who caused the harm makes no fucking sense.
I benefit from the harm caused.