Acts of hate and racism have existed in many forms throughout history, they continue to grow and claim millions of innocent lives, and although it is impossible to repair the loss of a loved one, it is necessary to seek measures to form a society more sensitive and exchange hatred for acts of healing and compensation that manage to ensure a better future for anyone.
This is what experts pointed out during a press conference organized by Ethnic Media Services, who They pointed out that documenting and validating the acts that cause trauma to the people affected are key to raising awareness in society and generating change.
Helen Zia, author and founder of the Vincent Chin Institute, said that acts of hate should be taken as a learning and change process, as was the case of Vincent Chin, a young man who was beaten to death by two men who blamed him for his economic situation. It was an act of hate towards Japan, but it claimed the life of an innocent Asian-American.
For Zia, the healing process came about through a community strengthened by creating new organizations, forming new generations of activists working together against racism, injustice and hatred. “That’s what has been generated as an act of unity.”
“Today I am starting to do something, it is part of my job to document this. But also to be an active agent for change, using my journalistic skills to make the community heard, to help Vincent Chin’s mother who was willing to speak out through her suffering and became an example for the Asian American community,” she stressed.
James Taylor, Professor of African American History, spoke about acts of hate that have harmed communities throughout history, such as slavery, which lasted for many years. But this is only one of many acts suffered by African descendants, which is why there must be legal measures that seek to repair these acts, not as a favor but as compensation for the damage done.
"Reparations are about healing and reconciliation, fixing what has been broken. And the truth is that people of African descent always seem to be hurting," she said.
For Professor Taylor, acts of reparation are already taking place in society and today there is nothing that can stop them. All communities must be supported to continue moving forward, not only in society but also legally before governments.
For his part, Nestor Fantini, editor and sociologist, former political prisoner in Argentina, shared his experience in the South American country and how he experienced inhumane acts during this time.
"People were kidnapped and taken to concentration camps. There were more than 300,000 missing people and 500 babies who were kidnapped," he said.
The sociologist shared a saying he heard at a conference in South Africa: “Only the individual who suffered harm has the authority to forgive, no one but him. Forcing a victim to make a certain decision is re-victimizing the victim. Not the state or the judge, only the individual can forgive,” he said.
For Fantini, acts of reparation are necessary, however, one cannot repair the life of someone who has already lost it, one can never repair the absence of a loved one, but society cannot be locked into these events, one must speak about what has been experienced so that others know what is happening and the guilty are punished before the law.
The experts agreed that reparations are not the result of acts of hate, but rather the consequences of what has been experienced. Therefore, it is necessary to document, expose these acts and analyze them throughout history in order to better understand them and thus seek measures that restore the injured communities.
Compensation to repair acts of hate is necessary; ignoring or forgetting would only leave more room for continuing to hurt innocent people. However, the issue should not focus on how to compensate society. It is necessary to generate acts that prevent hatred towards vulnerable communities, form a society based on respect, have measures that guarantee legal justice, support associations that promote equality and get governments involved to be part of the solution. This is what we must focus on as a society.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
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