Race, Apology, and Ani DiFranco

December 31, 2013 10:08 AM

The time of social media events is short, so writing a few words on Ani DiFranco’s apology (or apologetically toned press release) is at this point probably already out of date. Still, the talk around her event – a now-canceled plan to host a retreat at a plantation house – raises the most American of questions: what does it mean to be here, to remember where we are, and how do we situate ourselves in relation to the pain of the past? And, of course, what does it mean to apologize? I think I probably followed the story like most people. First, I read some Facebook and Twitter posts linking to the site announcing that DiFranco planned to host a songwriter’s retreat at a plantation house outside of New Orleans. Then I read Toshi Reagon’s thoughtful reflection on what it meant for her, as an African-American, to consider occupying, in any way or shape, the plantation house. And then DiFranco’s own announcement that the event had been cancelled, which included a kind of apology and a whole lot of hope for a better racial future.
posted by josher71 (1 comment total)

Possibly in future Ani DiFranco should manage her calendar herself and employ someone else to write her blog posts: doing it the current way around is really not doing her any favors.
posted by running order squabble fest at 10:12 AM on December 31, 2013