Before I knew the history of plantations in the deep south, I loved them.

I thought that the architecture was beautiful, and I loved the rich foliage and laid-back nature of the southern states.

But the soil of those plantations contains tears I’m not sure can evaporate, and I cannot forget that pain.

And so I want to say, I’m sorry.

I’m inspired to apologize by a man who, on International Women’s Day, posted this to his Facebook page:

For the millennia of subjugation, marginalization, enslavement, rape, violence and inequality that my gender has inflicted on women and girls and for the remnants of those horrors today, I am profoundly sorry and pledge to do my part towards a more equitable future.

His words struck a chord with me, and I told him he was awesome and thanked him for his words. He responded,

Thanks Analise. I’m sorry that we live in a world where apologizing for terrorizing over half the human population is so rare that it is considered “awesome”.

I deeply admire him, and I want to borrow his sentiment here:

For the millennia of subjugation, marginalization, enslavement, rape, torture, violence, and inequality that my race has inflicted on Africans, African Americans, and black people, and for the remnants of those horrors today, I am profoundly sorry and pledge to do my part towards creating a more equitable future.

I am deeply sorry we took you from your homes.

I am deeply sorry we stripped you of your culture.

I am deeply sorry we subjected you to brutal violence.

I am deeply sorry we took away your freedom.

I am deeply sorry we humiliated you.

I am deeply sorry we told you that you were not human.

I am deeply sorry that we forced you to work.

I am deeply sorry that we turned you into a tool.

I am deeply sorry that we used you, abused you, and confused you.

I am deeply sorry that we made it impossible for you to protect your loved ones and children.

I am deeply sorry that we scared you and terrorized you.

I am deeply sorry that we covered you in scars, seen and unseen.

I am deeply sorry for everything, especially all of the injuries I cannot see and will never know.

I am deeply sorry, and I pledge to do my part.

In love and liminality,

Annie Rose