Ani DiFranco issues real apology for slave plantation retreat
Reknowned singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco recently planned a retreat for likeminded aspiring feminist poets to get their sang on. While that in and of itself seems like a harmless gesture, when you include the fact that the planned retreat was on a former slave plantation in Louisiana things get a bit dicey. Throw in the fact that 2013 saw more and more people questioning why feminism is regularly framed in terms of the white female perspective and you have a white-hot Internet explosion waiting to happen.
And happen it did. DiFranco, considered by many to be an icon of the feminist movement, was roundly bashed by commentators. She made things worse by issuing a bit of a non-apology that skirted any blame for choosing the location in the first place. However, after receiving another round of angry missives, DiFranco full-on cancelled the retreat and apologized on her Facebook page. Check it out below:
everyone,
it has taken me a few days but i have been thinking and feeling very intensely and i would like to say i am sincerely sorry. it is obvious to me now that you were right; all those who said we can't in good conscience go to that place and support it or look past for one moment what it deeply represents. i needed a wake up call and you gave it to me.
it was a great oversight on my part to not request a change of venue immediately from the promoter. you tried to tell me about that oversight and i wasn't available to you. i'm sorry for that too.
know that i am digging deeper.
-ani
What do you think? Is DiFranco's apology enough?
Sound off in the comments.