Apologies only partially restore equity and do more to assuage guilt than privilege.

Evidence

In contrast to psychological attempts to restore equity, actual attempts at restoration of equity involve adjusting the inputs or outcomes of the parties involved so that the ratio actually becomes equivalent. Whites that feel collective guilt might attempt actual restoration of equity with Blacks through some form of financial or programmatic compensation. … An apology may not fully eliminate distress because it only partially restores equity. … Restoration is partial because a verbal apology cannot equate access to education, employment opportunities, and the balance of bank accounts between members of the exploiting and exploited groups. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 470

Categorization

• XREF: Supports the argument that cheap symbolic restitution functions more as guilt relief than genuine equity repair; connects to the sacrifice/reparation theme and to ch3’s functional guilt ideas.