The U.N. slavery resolution charts a path forward to truth, justice, and reconciliation

On Wednesday, the United Nations passed a historic resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the “gravest crime against humanity” and calling for discussions around reparations. Though not legally binding, the resolution calls for apologies, restitution, and possible financial compensation for the lasting effects of slavery.

Slavery was not only evil, it was also a moral failure of humanity and a stain on the conscience of nations that participated in it and profited from it, including the United States. No serious person should deny that. No honest observer of history should attempt to minimize it.

America’s early economic development was undeniably influenced by enslaved labor and other forms of injustice. The wealth generated during those centuries helped shape institutions, industries, and opportunities that continue to influence the present. That truth must be acknowledged. Any honest national conversation must begin there.

But honesty must also be paired with wisdom. And this is where the conversation becomes more complicated — and more important.

One of my concerns with much of the reparation movement and with frameworks such as critical race theory is that they often place people into permanent categories: victim and victimizer, oppressed and oppressor. These frameworks sometimes suggest that history permanently defines identity and responsibility.

That approach may be understandable given the weight of history, but it also risks creating new divisions while attempting to resolve old ones.

A healthy society cannot function if entire generations are defined primarily by events they did not personally create or experience. Nor can we ignore the legitimate pain and inequities that continue to affect communities shaped by that history. Both realities must be held together.

The danger is not in acknowledging injustice — that is necessary. The danger is in creating a framework where reconciliation becomes impossible because individuals are permanently assigned roles based on history.

History matters. But history should inform us, not imprison us.

Beyond the philosophical questions, there are also practical ones. Even if reparations were justified — and many thoughtful people believe they are — how would they be implemented?

Who qualifies? Who pays? How much? How do we determine responsibility across centuries?

What role should international organizations like the United Nations play in decisions that affect American taxpayers and policy? These are not minor questions. They are complex moral, economic, and political issues that deserve careful consideration rather than emotional reaction.

Many Americans today — including those whose families arrived long after slavery ended — do not see themselves as responsible for a system they did not create. At the same time, many descendants of enslaved people rightly point to persistent disparities in wealth, education, and opportunity that trace back to historical injustice.

Both perspectives exist. Both must be acknowledged. Simple answers will not solve complex problems.

History matters. But history should inform us, not imprison us.

It is also important to recognize that America has made real progress — imperfect, incomplete, but undeniable progress.

A nation that once permitted slavery ended it through a Civil War that cost more than 600,000 lives. A nation that once enforced segregation dismantled it through civil rights legislation and social transformation. A nation that once denied Black Americans the right to vote has elected Black leaders at the highest levels, including the presidency.

None of this erases the past. But it does demonstrate that progress is possible.

Acknowledging progress does not deny continuing challenges. Disparities in education, criminal justice, economic opportunity, and community investment remain real concerns that deserve attention. But these challenges should be addressed through forward-looking solutions that build opportunity rather than deepen division.

If the goal is healing, then the path forward must focus on solutions that unite rather than divide.

That means investing in education, entrepreneurship, and economic development in underserved communities. It means strengthening families and supporting pathways to ownership and generational wealth. It means addressing inequities in ways that empower individuals rather than categorize them.

History should motivate us to act — not to assign blame indefinitely, but to build a more just and equitable future.

Reconciliation is not about forgetting the past. It is about learning from it while refusing to let it permanently define our future.

The United Nations resolution forces us to confront history. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Honest reflection can be healthy. But the answer cannot simply be financial compensation. Lasting change requires moral leadership, thoughtful policy, and a commitment to shared national purpose.

America does not need more division. America needs unity rooted in truth.

The strength of America has always been its ability to confront its failures and move forward.

The strength of America has always been its ability to confront its failures and move forward. That has been true throughout our history — and it must remain true now.

The story of America is not perfect. But it is also not finished.

And the path forward must be guided not by anger alone, but by wisdom, fairness, and a shared commitment to building a better future together.

Because justice is not only about correcting the past — it is about creating hope for the future.

The Rev. Dr. Michel J. Faulkner, a former NFL player, community leader, pastor, and registered Republican, is chair of the board of directors of the Philadelphia Council of Clergy.