The King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, on Saturday, apologized for his ancestors’ role in perpetuating a global slave trade that saw hundreds of thousands of colonized peoples trafficked away from their homes to work on enterprises that enriched the Dutch state.
Greetings Family and comrades,
The abolition of the Dutch Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Colonialism is observed annually throughout the Dutch Empire on July 1. The day began with cultural performances, memorialization of our ancestors with poetry, and speeches, as is customary.
This year, Willem Alexander of the Netherlands apologised for his country’s and the Royal Family’s role in the enslavement of Africans. It is no surprise that the speech made headlines around the world and received mixed emotional reactions, from tears, joy, and cheers to dissatisfaction and frustration, as several key and sensitive issues were sidelined or omitted.
For example, was the speech an attempt to rewrite our story? Will it (re) set relations between the Hague and St. MARTEN, St. Eustatius, Saba, Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire? Will the speech spark more heated discussions about INSTITUTIONAL RACE AND DISCRIMINATION/white supremacy, REPARATIONS AND REDEVELOPMENT?
WHICH ONLY THEN THE HEALING PROCESS CAN START FOR THE AFRIKAN DESCENDANTS AND AFRIKANS AT LARGE. SEEING THE CONTINUATION OF THE LEGACY OF THE DUTCH TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE AFRIKAN COMMUNITIES, IN ORDER TO HAVE HEALING, THERE HAS TO BE JUSTICE AND REDEVELOPMENT.
Ashantibiz
