The Division Bell

Steuart Pittman's upcoming "apology" for slavery displays his casual racism and White Savior Complex

Wealthy Horsemen, Slave Owner Descendant, Maryland Democratic Party emergency chairman, and Accidental Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman must be feeling awfully guilty.

This afternoon, Pittman announced that in four weeks, he would be apologizing on behalf of Anne Arundel County for slavery.

The RSVP link for the event goes into further details about exactly what Pittman plans to do this:

On November 1st (Maryland Emancipation Day) Anne Arundel County will issue a formal apology for its role in slavery and its lasting harms on our communities. This acknowledgement seeks to provide a necessary moment of countywide reflection and reconciliation for the community.

In partnership with the Maryland State Archives, the program will feature a historical overview, (from the arrival of enslaved people from Africa to emancipation and beyond), and a formal apology for the profound, far-reaching impacts slavery has had on generations of Black Americans. During lunch, attendees will have the opportunity to view two visiting exhibits, “Flee! Stories of Flight from Maryland” and the Maryland Emancipation Quilt.

The afternoon will feature two panel discussions:

1. A Conversation About Reparations intended to educate residents about reparations and the forms they can take.

2. Opportunities Now!, a discussion with local leaders to showcase existing local programs that can directly improve the lives of individuals and families - especially to resolve disparities in health, wealth, and education.

Together, we will face hard truths, honor those affected, and take steps toward equity and repair.

Did Anne Arundel County cause slavery? No. Did Anne Arundel County own slaves? I don’t believe that they did. Did most of the families in Anne Arundel County move to Anne Arundel County after the abolition of slavery in 1865? Yes.

In 1860 (the last census before the abolition of slavery, the population consisted of 31,232 people. Of those, 7,332 were slaves. There is no doubt that Anne Arundel County had a significant population just prior to the Civil War of enslaved persons.

But again, how is that Anne Arundel County’s fault? What did the County do specifically to enslave people? Nothing. Slavery was legal under state law and national law at the time. It was a grave wrong that should never have happened. But Anne Arundel County has 602,350 residents. None of us have owned slaves.

An apology does not fix the sins of the past, but Pittman is not apologizing on behalf of any person who owned a slaved. Perhaps the countywide apology is Pittman trying to distract from the fact that his family owned slaves, he still lives on a plantation that was built by slaves, and his family wealth was acquired on the backs of slaves. If Pittman wants to apologize and make amends for that, he should feel free.

But for what purpose does a county-level apology serve? What does such a county-level apology do but open up wounds from the past and serve to divide people instead of unite them?

Pittman’s goal appears to be, as always for a Democratic politician. Reparations. The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill earlier this year to study reparations, a bill vetoed by Governor Wes Moore. The program Pittman is hosting will discuss the issue “to educate residents about reparations and the forms they can take.” We know exactly what forms Maryland Democrats will make sure they take: more government programs that take more money from working families.

But let’s not dismiss the casual racism of Pittman’s event, too. The event will “showcase existing local programs that can directly improve the lives of individuals and families - especially to resolve disparities in health, wealth, and education.” To an extent, Pittman is showing his White Savior complex and his belief that African-Americans are incapable of anything without the white man holding their hand and showing them how to do it. It’s an absurd, antiquated belief that was never appropriate, hasn't been socially acceptable for a hundred years, and yet is perfectly suited for a man who’s personal wealth was built on slavery. I’m sure that would be a surprise to many African-Americans across Maryland.

Let me be clear. Education is a GOOD thing. Dialogue is a GOOD thing. Celebrating days like Juneteenth and the end of slavery are GOOD things. We should not whitewash American history in the way that the Trump Administration is trying to.

But this action, this event? It solves no problems and accomoplishes no goals.

Pittman’s “apology” is just another event that will create more problems than it solves and divides more people than it unites. But that’s just what we have learned to expect from mediocre men like Pittman and the hundreds of other Maryland Democratic officials just like him.