Yesterday, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell apologized for omitting slavery in his proclamation recognizing April as "Confederate History Month." He added this language to the proclamation (via Dave Weigel):
WHEREAS, it is important for all Virginians to understand that the institution of slavery led to this war and was an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders, and the study of this time period should reflect upon and learn from this painful part of our history.
Ta-Nehisi Coates writes that McDonnell committed "an act of political courage," which I think goes a bit too far. McDonnell had been excoriated in the press by two of his most important black supporters -- former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder and BET Executive Sheila Johnson -- and was getting hammered in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, a paper that had originally endorsed McDonnell believing him to be a moderate. Yet here he was starting a second culture-war battle, four months into his governorship. Even conservative bloggers were scratching their heads. Few people were willing to defend this.
McDonnell did the right thing here -- or came close to doing the right thing -- just as he did before, when he kinda-sorta reinstated protections for gay and lesbian employees of the state government, following controversy. I see no indication that these were acts of "political courage" rather than acts of political self-interest. It's good that McDonnell apologized for the omission and now acknowledges the crucial role the institution of slavery played in the creation of the Confederacy. But courage? I don't know about that. Understanding that slavery was a defining principle upon which the Confederacy was founded is what we expect of elementary school children, let alone state governors.
I'm generally of the opinion that the social sanctions for racism are too high given that everyone sometimes succumbs to prejudice. This is a good example of how I think these things should generally work -- McDonnell did something bad, he was criticized, he apologized, it's time to move on. But it was also in McDonnell's political interest not to drag this out any longer. When it comes to politicians, I think it's generally safe not to attribute to altruism what can easily be explained by self-interest.
-- A. Serwer
