Acknowledgment of past deserves to address a wider scope
Attendance at many cultural events in and around Trenton includes a land acknowledgment, a kind of homage to Indigenous people.
McCarter Theater offers this statement, describing a “mission, opportunity, and privilege as an arts and culture institution to embrace and share the stories and perspectives of all, and to champion a more equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible future.
“By engaging in this intentional practice, we aim to disrupt the erasure of the Indigenous people in our communities and invite more truth of the history of this land. We do this out of respect for the Indigenous peoples and their traditions, as well as an appreciation of their history and the acknowledgement that predominately white institutions such as McCarter have benefited from colonization and its effects.”
A similar recognition occurred during a ceremony for the Steeple Center project in downtown Trenton, an estimated $25 million redevelopment by a group called 120 East State that intends to transform First Presbyterian Church into a performing arts center. Cherry Oakley, 120 East State board president, noted the stewardship of these lands by Lenni Lenape people before colonization destroyed their way of life.
For cynics, land acknowledgments exist as pause before continued exploitation of people, places and objects. Several speakers discussed the American Revolution and the freedom delivered to Europeans, distanced from the curious hypocrisy of such a notion when juxtaposed with slavery of Africans.
Giving consideration to the roles played by Blacks as slaves, especially their much-needed employ for the collection of tobacco, cotton and sugar cane, products that bolstered the U.S. economy, an acknowledgment of their sacrifices seems warranted, especially when one understands the slave workforce provided labor for numerous U.S. initiatives. Plus, between 5,000 to 8,000 Africans fought opposite British forces during the Revolutionary War then returned to slavery afterward. Some were released while others ran away.
By the way, the preamble for Indigenous people before many proceedings does not exist as apology, simply a confession that colonists took their land, killed off many of them and isolated them to different parts of the country where they still suffer significant indignities including poverty, high unemployment, poor health and limited access to healthcare, less access to quality education and other challenges.
Incredibly, Indigenous people have some of the highest hunger rates in the U.S. The estimated 5.5 million Indigenous people that represent more than 560 Indian Nations, have a poverty rate of 25.4, double the national number of 12.3 percent.
Trenton shows a 28-percent poverty rate while Blacks, Latinos and others face significant food insecurity issues.
So, while land acknowledgments, when sincere and forward-thinking, show genuine respect for Native Peoples past and present, frequently these statements sound more like a box being checked before announcing the project at hand.