I write this letter when our nation marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. This may seem like ancient history to you as you prepare to commemorate the 200th anniversary. But, even at 150 years, wounds are not yet healed and disagreement abounds.
First, let me say that we messed up. We are not very good at telling the story of the tragic events of the Civil War. We even disagree over why we fought it.
Allow me to set the record straight: We fought over whether a state was a state, over whether a union was a union and, believe it or not, we fought over whether a person was a person. Can you believe it?! There was actually disagreement over whether or not a person actually counted as a person! What is even worse, as I write some people still do not believe personhood was at issue in the conflict.
I urge you to name these awful aspects of our past and to confess our sins as a nation. Do not keep them hidden away to fester or try to downplay them. We sinned. We are sorry.
Forgive us as we sin again in our 150th commemorations by not coming clean once and for all about this history. While we do not leave you the legacy of the audacious cruelty of slavery, we do leave you a legacy of divisive half-truths and denials.
May you read this at a time when racial inequality no longer exists, when the wounds of the past have healed and open honesty wins the day.
-Inspired by this report from National Public Radio.