EHST Member Kwame Teague, who is incarcerated in the NC prison system, sent me a video appeal for Reparations that he made for President Obama.

I think that this powerful video is worth seeing and it is linked in this blog post. You should know that the video contains images of violence against Black Americans. It is a graphic and strong message.

The sound quality of the audio track accompanying the video makes it hard to follow, so I have provided a transcript. I suggest reading the transcript before seeing the video.

Dear Mr. President –

Lincoln may have freed the slaves, but he didn’t free the nation form slavery. How could he? The Constitution itself says that Blacks are three-fifths of a human being and the Thirteenth Amendment allows slavery to this day – for slavery hasn’t been abolished, its only been modified.

This country owes its black sons and daughters an apology. This country owes itself closure. America is the greatest country in the world and it is precisely because it’s great that it’s obligated to look Black America in the eye and say, “I’m sorry”.

Mr. President, we are asking you to deliver this apology for slavery, not as a black man, or an African-American, but as President of the United States. We ask that you stand before the country and say on behalf of the government, I, Barak Obama, firmly and unequivocally apologize for this government’s role of support, formally, financially, and politically for the institution of slavery.

If you don’t, if you step away from what’s right, not only will you completely damage your legacy in the eyes of the unborn, but you will squander America’s last chance to finally free us all.

Mr. President, it’s time to apologize. It’s time for reparations.

Kwame Teague

Here is the Link:

Dear Mr. President – Kwame Teague