Last week, the United Nations passed a resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity, furthermore, calling it the greatest crime against humanity. The country of Ghana took the lead in putting forth the resolution which would received 123 votes by countries in favor of it, three countries opposing it, and 52 countries abstaining to vote (what I call a "trazpee act" resulting in essentially a "no" vote). During the course of the meeting, the president of Ghana stated “Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of millions who suffered the indignity of slavery.”
The three countries voting "No" were the United States, Israel, and Argentina. PBS.org states ". The United Kingdom and all 27 members of the European Union were among those that abstained." (according to PBS article here). Their racist ideologies continue to shine through, nor do I feel their vote is a form of "denial". I feel their vote exhibits a Eurocentric mentality which has prevailed over 400 years. At least have to decency to acknowledge the transatlantic slave trade was a horrendous practice, and its impact produced on African families and upon black descendants of slaves in America. Not only is the idea of reparations for their human trafficking contrary to their generally racist perspectives; it might involve a financial cost which they are not willing to even consider. Where is accountability?
I at not at least bit surprised on the American vote. Under the Trump administration, great efforts have been made not only to erase black history in public schools, but also in government buildings, federal websites, national parks, historical buildings including museums such as the Smithsonian. Yet Israel, not even 100 years out from the Holocaust would vote "yes"? Israel who endured the horrors of Nazi Germany which sought to destroy the Jewish people has voted "yes" to NOT consider the trafficking of enslaved human beings in consensus with the country who benefited most from violating African people, the United States. The very same Israel who sought the world's help from the terror Adolph Hitler was inflicting upon its people. Argentina, however, is less shocking, as it became a major hub for absorbing Nazis fleeing prosecution, and still holds that stench today with a racist power base which continues today.
Dan Negrea, one of Trump's henchmen and the U.N. Ambassador stated in true white supremacist form regarding the United Nation resolution “The United States also strongly objects to the resolution’s attempt to rank crimes against humanity in any type of hierarchy,” he said. “The assertion that some crimes against humanity are less severe than others objectively diminishes the suffering of countless victims and survivors of other atrocities throughout history.” (from AP article here). Believe me, if the language of the resolution left out the phrasing of “the gravest crime against humanity”, Negrea would not had voted any differently, nor would had Israel and Argentina. Nor do I see the discounting of victims from other historical atrocities because of the U.N's adoption of this resolution. This Eurocentric view is more concerned with "semantics" than the historical facts regarding the horrors inflicted upon victims of the slave trade. I call this essentially "slight of hand" not to deal with the real issues regarding slavery, and that it was a massive, almost unfathomable criminal act.
Those countries which abstained from voting spoke volumes through their actions. The following image details a chart of how countries voted. Clicking on it should enlarge the image in another window or tab.
According to a excerpt from a Pass Blue article, The resolution “is not about apportioning blame across generations or nations,” said Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s minister of foreign affairs, to journalists after the Assembly vote. “It is not about reopening old wounds; it is about ensuring that those wounds are neither forgotten nor denied. It is about creating space for truth for education and for a more honest conversation that allows us to move forward with greater understanding.” And sadly, we see the opposite of Ablakwa's vision in America, for Donald Trump is on a mission to erase historical accounts about slavery in the United States. Red states in this country are vigorously tweaking textbooks in public schools to omit subject matter in schools, while on a federal level, the Trump administration has sought to wipe out anything about slavery, instead focusing on "white discrimination", while whites maintain power and own most of the wealth in this country. We must continue to talk about slavery, and not allow a white supremacist movement to erase our history.
