By Brandon Henry
AFRO Intern
On Nov. 22, Anne Arundel County officials hosted “A Day of Acknowledgement: Confronting the Legacy of Slavery,” where they released an official apology for the roles past leaders in the area played during chattel slavery.
The event and the apology were a result of various organizations’ requests, including; the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Caucus of African American Leaders, and the Anne Arundel County Human Rights Commission.
Information released by Anne Arundel County officials said the event was held to “face hard truths, honor those affected, and take steps toward equity and repair.”
“It is long overdue for Anne Arundel County to acknowledge and apologize for its role in supporting and enforcing the institution of slavery,” said Steuart Pittman, county executive, in a statement about the event. “As a direct descendant of local enslavers, I understand that there is no way to undo the past, but I cannot end my time in office without responding to this request with an acknowledgment and apology. Our Office of Equity and Human Rights has worked closely with local historians and descendants of enslaved people to ensure this apology is a meaningful step toward repair.”
Records from the Maryland State Archives, a partner for the event, show that the first enslaved Black people arrived in Maryland in 1634. For centuries, Black people were held against their will, building up a nation that denied their humanity then and still profits off of their hard labor today.
The Day of Acknowledgement included two panels, titled “A Conversation About Reparations” and “Opportunities Now!” These sessions addressed reparations and programs that can provide opportunity to people within the community. There were also two exhibits during the lunch period of the event, including a viewing of the Maryland Emancipation Quilt and “Flee! Stories of Flight from Maryland.”