Reconciliation Tour
The Reconciliation Tour throughout the United States and the Diaspora is central to the vision of RADCORP. It is an extension of the 1999 Reconciliation and Development Conference held in Benin. This conference featured apologies to the Diaspora from the President of Benin, political and business leaders from both Europe and the United States.

The healing impact of this apology on members of the Diaspora who were present was something we believe every person whose ancestry was involved in the slave trade in any way should experience. Each new generation should be given the opportunity to set aside the hurt and bitterness of the past but more importantly, find a way of ending once and for all the lasting legacy of slavery and racism. Since most people were not aware of the conference, the apology or the reconciliation movement, RADCORP accepts as part of its mandate the mission to facilitate reconciliation through sponsorship of this tour.

Tour Objectives

• Present reconciliation message to widest possible audience.
• Facilitate relationships between African Americans and Africans living in the United States.
• Create name recognition and public relations exposure for RADCORP.
• Expose Benin and other African economies to the business community.
• Develop a resource pool and database for RADCORP.
• Promote Adopt-a-Village and other programs.
• Attain a positive return on investment and economic sustainability.
• Reconciliation, healing and all other resultant benefits.

These objectives are advanced through the following activities:

• Reconciliation Banquet
• Academic Forums
• Press Conference/Appearances
• Receptions
• Reconciliation and Roots Concerts
• Prayer Breakfast
• Business and Community Leaders Luncheon
• RADCORP Orientation Seminar
• Church Visitation

The tour is a community wide event and is modified to reflect the dynamics and problems of each community. The Flagship event is the Reconciliation Banquet. It involves all willing community leaders and members. The event features an extension of the apology given to the Diaspora on behalf of his ancestry by President Mathieu Ke’re’kou at the 1999 Conference. It is delivered by the Benin Ambassador to the United States, his Excellency Cyrille Oguin, along with other addresses by other ambassadors and community leaders. This simple act of saying “I’m sorry” to members of the Diaspora has had a profound impact on many people. It has led to healing and reconciliation not only between Africans and African Americans, but to the entire Diaspora and Whites as well. One of the keys to this impact is in bringing to light the extent of the untold role the Africans played in the slave trade.

The Diaspora must face the moral dilemma of having to forgive their African brother while choosing to hold animosity towards Whites. Whites have to come to terms with the fact their actions led to more than a White/Black divide, but brought deep abiding pain, separation and distrust among Blacks themselves as it brought among Whites.

The power of the Tour also lies in its inclusion. Here are some of the groups that have participated so far or are invited to participate from every segment of the community.

• African Ambassadors
• Africans who now reside in the United States
• College and Universities
• One Hundred Black Men
• Churches and Church Convention
• Business Community
• Chambers of Commerce
• Radio and Television Stations
• Political Leaders
• Public Figures and Institutions
• Civic Organization
• Black Chamber of Commerce
• Local Artists
• Local/National Celebrities
• Para Church Organization and NGO’S

The Tour sponsors activities to individual community groups with the message of Reconciliation and application to their sphere of influence.
It is also a media event that has captured the attention of many. Local coverage of the Baton Rouge event was picked up by Associated Press and carried worldwide. FOX News Network ran the story of the event for an entire day.

Goals
The goal is to sponsor a stop on the Tour in different cities in the United States each month. This means that four stops on the Tour are in planning and management stages at the same time requiring different levels of involvement and financing.