In brief
During his inaugural trip as a sitting U.S. president to Angola, President Joe Biden delivered a poignant message surrounding the dark history of the transatlantic slave trade that has deeply interwoven the two nations. Speaking at the National Museum of Slavery in Luanda, Biden insisted that acknowledging history—particularly the horrors of slavery—is crucial to fostering a truthful relationship moving forward. He underscored the significance of memory against the backdrop of ongoing debates in the United States about how history should be taught and remembered.
Biden, alongside descendants of enslaved Africans, described slavery as "our nation’s original sin," detailing its lasting impact on American society. He declined to conform to the typical diplomatic narrative that often celebrates positive achievements in international relations, instead embracing the imperative of recognizing both past atrocities and present implications. The president asserted that although America has yet to achieve true equality, the country's history, both good and bad, must be faced to enable healing and understand the path ahead for U.S.-Africa relations.
