What is up with people apologizing for their ancestors?

Someone who was white recently apologized to me for what my ancestors had to endure during the US colonial period. They were very apologetic for it too, “I am SO sorry for how our ancestors treated your people” Wtf? 😂 That apology means nothing to me because it’s completely unnecessary. It’s been centuries since then! Apologizing for it when you yourself had nothing to do with it is just ridiculous at this point. Do they honestly believe they’re doing me or my ancestors any favors?