On So-Called White Guilt

Recently when I was on vacation to my fathers house in Missouri, my Grandfather commented on a discussion he had had with an man whose ancesters had been slaves. Not only slaves, but slaves of my Grandfather's (and obviously my own) ancestors. My grandfather made a statement to the man which i found to be offensive (but it didn't sound as though the man was offended, indeed he had doubtlessly faced ignorance and racism of both key types all of his life, and had developed a thick skin and a compassionate acceptance of those from another cultural moment).
This recollection of my grandfather made me wonder about myself. Prior to that exchange I was uncertain if my ancestors had themselves owned slaves had supported the instition and were otherwise reactionary, or if perhaps they were abolitionists or otherwise progressive. Clearly I hoped for the latter.
While discovering that (at least some of) my ancesters were involved in supporting the institution of slavery (at least inasmuch as they owned slaves) was disheartening, it was attatched with a feeling of sadness - - not guilt. I cannot feel guilty for the actions of my ancesters, I must understand that they came from a different historical moment. That being said, I fight to mend their transgressions through combatting racism/discrimination/being otherwise progressive.
I believe that the servitude forced on the man's ancestors at the hands of my own was just as wrong as the racism (structural and individual) that the man faces today. While I cannot feel guilty for the sins of my fathers, I can take responsibility and combat present day sins.
As much as I would hope that my ancesters were abolitionists (as some of them might have been), or were against the Japanese internment in World War II, or were sympathetic, fair, and helpful to Native Americans, supportive of the civil rights movement, the women's rights movement, interracial marriage, or in any other way progressive, open-minded, and "Good," so I can myself hope that my children's children's children (if/when they exist) can look back on me, their ancestor, with pride that I chose to fight ignorance (in myself and in others) and progressively pushed for freedom and equality as lofty and worthy goals.
For this reason I am always interested in engaging in discussion and rational evaluation of ignorance and reactionary ideology. I support Gay, Atheist, Muslim, Jewish, Disabled, Deaf, Racial Minorities, Ethnic Minorities, Women's, the cyclically poor, and all other marginalized groups' rights and equal opportunity for all people. I recognize that our society is still essentially racist, genderist, sexist, religionist, western centric, and otherwise ignorant, but hope that I can help to progressively and actively reform our society to form a better world for my decendents, my peers, and myself.