Senate passes apology for slavery
Posted June 18th, 2009 by James DeWolf PerryThe U.S. Senate has passed a resolution apologizing for the nation’s history of slavery and racial discrimination.
The historic resolution, offered by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), was debated by the full Senate for an hour this morning, with no senator objecting to the measure, before being approved on a voice vote. The concurrent resolution now proceeds to the House for that body’s approval, before becoming a joint expression of the sentiment of Congress.
S. Con. Res. 26 “acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws.” It further states that “African-Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow laws–long after both systems were formally abolished–through enormous damage and loss, both tangible and intangible.”
The resolution then “apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States.”
For more information and background on this resolution, readers may visit my own blog, “The Living Consequences.”
June 24th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Altough vague, this apology is appreciated and a long time coming. I do beleive that America must come to temrms with the fact that this country was built on the backs of slaves. What amazes me still today is how they ignore the issue that blacks in this country deserve reparation. That is the beginning of what is due to us. The simple fact, this country negates that African Americanns continue to face inequality futher proves that African Americans will never be treated equal. Yes we hav ea black president, but that changes nothing. Look how long we had to wait for that.I am a angry 28 year old African American woman who wants to see justice. So many other ethnic groups received reparation so why not us. Is it becasue we continue to be miss treated. America will never be willing to face the wrong they have done. This truly saddens me.
July 13th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I am white, and I agree with Rebecca W. A simple apology is easy, and though it’s a beginning, it is not nearly enough.
August 19th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I agree. I am African-Nicaraguan. My Grand parents were in route to the U.S. to be trade when their ship sunk on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. I truely believe that apology does nothing for my current situation. I would like some reparation too. In fact our whole community in Bluefields, Zelaya, Nicaragua want reparation too.