US Senate Apologizes for Slavery

[Grace Assassin]

Senate Apology For Slavery Gets Mixed Reaction : NPR

Congressional Resolution Apologizing For Slavery


Whereas during the history of the Nation, the United States has grown into a symbol of democracy and freedom around the world; (Referred to House Committee after being Received from Senate)

SCON 26 RFH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. CON. RES. 26

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 18, 2009

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans.

Whereas during the history of the Nation, the United States has grown into a symbol of democracy and freedom around the world;

Whereas the legacy of African-Americans is interwoven with the very fabric of the democracy and freedom of the United States;

Whereas millions of Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and the 13 American colonies from 1619 through 1865;

Whereas Africans forced into slavery were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized, and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and heritage;

Whereas many enslaved families were torn apart after family members were sold separately;

Whereas the system of slavery and the visceral racism against people of African descent upon which it depended became enmeshed in the social fabric of the United States;

Whereas slavery was not officially abolished until the ratification of the 13th amendment to the Constitution of the United States in 1865, after the end of the Civil War;

Whereas after emancipation from 246 years of slavery, African-Americans soon saw the fleeting political, social, and economic gains they made during Reconstruction eviscerated by virulent racism, lynchings, disenfranchisement, Black Codes, and racial segregation laws that imposed a rigid system of officially sanctioned racial segregation in virtually all areas of life;

Whereas the system of de jure racial segregation known as `Jim Crow', which arose in certain parts of the United States after the Civil War to create separate and unequal societies for Whites and African-Americans, was a direct result of the racism against people of African descent that was engendered by slavery;

Whereas the system of Jim Crow laws officially existed until the 1960s—a century after the official end of slavery in the United States—until Congress took action to end it, but the vestiges of Jim Crow continue to this day;

Whereas 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, including the loss of human dignity and liberty;

Whereas the story of the enslavement and de jure segregation of African-Americans and the dehumanizing atrocities committed against them should not be purged from or minimized in the telling of the history of the United States;

Whereas those African-Americans who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws, and their descendants, exemplify the strength of the human character and provide a model of courage, commitment, and perseverance;

Whereas on July 8, 2003, during a trip to Goree Island, Senegal, a former slave port, President George W. Bush acknowledged the continuing legacy of slavery in life in the United States and the need to confront that legacy, when he stated that slavery `was . . . one of the greatest crimes of history . . . The racial bigotry fed by slavery did not end with slavery or with segregation. And many of the issues that still trouble America have roots in the bitter experience of other times. But however long the journey, our destiny is set: liberty and justice for all.';

Whereas President Bill Clinton also acknowledged the deep-seated problems caused by the continuing legacy of racism against African-Americans that began with slavery, when he initiated a national dialogue about race;

Whereas an apology for centuries of brutal dehumanization and injustices cannot erase the past, but confession of the wrongs committed and a formal apology to African-Americans will help bind the wounds of the Nation that are rooted in slavery and can speed racial healing and reconciliation and help the people of the United States understand the past and honor the history of all people of the United States;

Whereas the legislatures of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the States of Alabama, Florida, Maryland, and North Carolina have taken the lead in adopting resolutions officially expressing appropriate remorse for slavery, and other State legislatures are considering similar resolutions; and

Whereas it is important for the people of the United States, who legally recognized slavery through the Constitution and the laws of the United States, to make a formal apology for slavery and for its successor, Jim Crow, so they can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the sense of the Congress is the following:

(1) APOLOGY FOR THE ENSLAVEMENT AND SEGREGATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS- The Congress—

(A) acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws;

(B) apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws; and

(C) expresses its recommitment to the principle that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and calls on all people of the United States to work toward eliminating racial prejudices, injustices, and discrimination from our society.

(2) DISCLAIMER- Nothing in this resolution—

(A) authorizes or supports any claim against the United States; or

(B) serves as a settlement of any claim against the United States.

Passed the Senate June 18, 2009.

Attest:

NANCY ERICKSON,

Secretary.

Thoughts, opinions? Is this necessary? If so, is it enough?

My own view of this is that, while it is a nice gesture, you shouldn't have to apologize for something you didn't do. Similarly, you shouldn't have to be given an apology for something that wasn't done to you. The people who should have apologized and been apologized to have long since died, so, to me, this seems a bit absurd.

Am I implying then that there should have to be no formal apology? Basically, at this point, yes. It's unfortunate that there never was an apology from the people who were actually involved in this tragedy, but should we really bear blame for the sins of our fathers?

Now, as far as current discrimination goes, that's a different story. And I suppose restitution could have been in order for those who suffered during the civil rights movement as well...

meh.

[Bangkok Superpussy]

Empty, meaningless gesture.

[Iridium]

It's far from necessary. Was slavery bad? Yes. Did the African American community get reparations? Yes. Is there need for a public apology for the atrocities that have happened over the years of slavery, racism etc? No. It's in the past. While an apology is a nice attempt it really doesn't cover up what has happened in history and never will. The Senate should have just kept they're mouths closed; it's pathetic.

[Shamdeo]

Yeah, well slavery stands out here, but they are also apologizing for segregation and Jim Crow which many black Americans have experienced that are still alive today. Also, it's an apology stating the the U.S. Government has formally acknowledged that these were injustices. It's not doing anything crazy like omg reparationz for everyone lolol.

Apologies won't be enough for some people, but an acknowledgement is more or less sufficient for where we are today.

[Crossroads]

Oh...guess not.

[∞]

Eh. As an Australian, I can't help but feel that it was a kind of 'We did it first' thing, and that the USA is just jumping on the bandwagon to get some good press.

[Informal Gluttony]

We've apologized enough for slavery.

What's done is done. People should just accept it.

[Donna da Ragione]

I thought they did that before.

[Forever Atlas]

Reparations pleeeeease! : D

[Azrael]

Does it matter?

It already happened and no one needs to apologize for anything they didn't do.

[Crossroads]

You know who really got screwed over? Native Americans. I really don't think a few casinos are going to heal those wounds. XD

[King Wolfe]

Originally Posted by Sam

Empty, meaningless gesture.

Bow chicka bow wow

[The Sixth Axis]

I don't see why an apology was needed. We don't have a slave owner to apologize...

[Crossroads]

Originally Posted by iXenon

I don't see why an apology was needed. We don't have a slave owner to apologize...

We could resurrect them, make them apologize,then kill them. We have the technology.

[The Sixth Axis]

Originally Posted by Crossroads

We could resurrect them, make them apologize,then kill them. We have the technology.

Ah, of course.