Below is a letter I wrote to the AJC regarding a recent discussion of whether or not the State of Georgia should apologize for slavery:

With all the talk of apologies for slavery, one tends to forget how arbitrary and unfounded it is to expect a state to be responsible in any way for slavery. Most slaves were taken from their tribes and sold to slavers by other black African tribesmen. Why is no one demanding an apology from their descendants? And the infamous triangle trade, which was responsible for transporting and selling African slaves in the Americas was primarily made up of British merchants. Why is no one demanding an apology from them? Yes, slavery was bad and has immense sociological effects that continue today. But a balanced look at slavery must not neglect the question of where the descendants of slaves would be today, if not for American slavery. I doubt many would prefer to be living in their malaria, AIDS, and poverty stricken homelands. Additionally, the US is a country of immigrants, and Atlanta a city of immigrants from other parts of the country. I'd be willing to bet a VERY small percentage of current Georgians are descended from slaveholders. Many are probably descended from Union soldiers that fought and died to free the slaves.