Dear Mr. President:
It is a fact and well know that Africans sold their kit and kin into slavery to the white man – something that went on for over 400 years, give and take. As a Nigerian-American, I get that. It also took the conscience of white people to stop the practice. It is undeniable that slavery left a bitter taste in the mouth, in the Americas and elsewhere because of the way it was practiced.
We have listened to your commentaries on race relations in the United States, as President, visa-vis the present disharmony between law enforcement agents and young black youths. Our opinion in Africa-America Foundation is that your pronouncements are not addressing the real issues that can ease racial tensions in the country. We are of the view that the solution lies in the following:
1. Official Apology for the enslavement of Africans with the attendant atrocious inhuman acts and injustices perpetrated against them over the years.
2. Setting up of a Reparation Fund of at least 5 trillion dollars for them to use to try to rebuild their lives and have a semblance of normal life without the shame of slavery that puts them on the defensive and defiant.
3. Abolition of Affirmative Action or the so-called quota system which have been a reference point to call to question well-deserved achievements of so-called people of color.
4. Setting up a Re-education mechanism for the re-orientation of young black youths. This can be implemented through churches, schools, civic and/ or charitable organizations, etc. Slavery has ended and young, angry black youths have to learn to respect the police and other people in authority.
It took white Presidents to act boldly to emancipate African American slaves and enact civil rights laws to protect them. As an African-American who happens to be President in this historic time, you can act boldly to actualize the above proposals or something similar. Time is running out and these problems will only get worse if something drastic is not done. America needs to be integrated in real terms, not in rhetoric.
Yours Respectfully,
Africa-America Foundation
Oliver Udemba
President