Senate resolution apologizes for slavery, offers no reparations
The U.S. Senate today adopted a resolution offering a formal apology for slavery and the era of “separate but equal” Jim Crow laws that followed, CQ Politics reports.
The resolution doesn’t call for reparations. In fact, it includes a disclaimer stating that the measure does not authorize or support reparations for the descendants of African slaves brought to the United States before the Civil War, CQ Politics says.
That language drew criticism from some members of the Congressional Black Caucus. “If that is what it says, I don’t support it,” said Rep. Maxine Waters , D-Calif.
Last year, the House also adopted a resolution offering an apology. But it said nothing about reparations.
According to CQ Politics, the sponsor of that measure, Rep. Steve Cohen, a white Democrat from Tennessee who represents a largely black district, said the House might act again this year.
The CQ Politics article says:
“The House may do a resolution similar to the Senate or just rest on the one we passed last year,” said Cohen.
“I think it’s historic that the Senate passed a resolution,” he said, adding that the Senate would not have acted if the House had not adopted his earlier resolution last year. Cohen said he would prefer a resolution that was silent on reparations, but said he understood why the disclaimer was needed for Senate passage.
CQ Politics reports this response from Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill.:
“Some in the black community will dismiss this resolution. Some will say that words don’t matter — that the actions of our forefathers cannot be undone,” Burris said. “But words do matter. They matter a great deal.”
Burris acknowledged that the reparations disclaimer concerned him. “I want to go on record making sure that that disclaimer in no way would eliminate future actions that may be brought before this body that may deal with reparations,” he said.
(3 votes, average: 2.33 out of 5)
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Steve Parker is the deputy managing editor for news, and oversees the Post-Dispatch's front page. STLtoday's online news editors are on his newsroom team. Parker has been at the paper since September 1980. 
@taxpayer:
First, what makes you think I’m black? I’m white. Although I am from the North..
Second, you totally failed to get my point. The fact that something is legal is no excuse for evil behavior. The fact that something is “accepted by a majority” is no excuse for evil behavior.
Third, its not just something that happened 40 years ago, or 300 years ago. LOOK AROUND. Black people live in the ghetto and the mainstream black culture is absolute garbage because the U.S. federal government intentionally destroyed their family unit..
I’m really amused by Missourians. You all claim to be “Christians” but you are so NOT Christ-like it is laughable. You are prideful, hateful, racist, despicable people.
You all need to stop making excuses for things you know are evil.
Yawn!
@Lisa,
Its not about Africa, today or a thousand years ago.
Its about what happened in the United States of America.
Do you see the difference?
… god you people are dumb.
Do you think they are trying to say they are sorry ? well to me I think its a slap in the face because they should had did what DR. KING’S DREAM HAD SAID AND THIS WOULD HAD NEVER HAPPEN. WE HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR YEARS AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WANT TO APOLOGIZE. BLACK AFRICAN AMERICANS AMERICANS WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No one alive in America today was a slave, and no one here was a slave owner. In this country you are not responsible for the sins of your father. And anyway, many of our ancestors didn’t even get here until after slavery was abolished.
Someone joked that the only thing that would happen if today’s African Americans received some sort of reparation for slavery would be that Cadillac would be the best-selling brand. Of course, now that Cadillac is owned by the government, who would be dispensing the reparations…
Taxpayer
You know that legal does not equal right. It is a weak arguement to defend the institution of slavery based on the legality of it at the time. People knew it was wrong back then, regardless of the law.
123456
What is your problem? I disagree with taxpayer,Sarah, etc., but to say they are “dumb” or going to “hell”? You are never going to have a useful discussion with anyone on this blog speaking to people in this manner. I disagree a lot with people, and they with me, but never have we insulted each other’s intelligence or had the gall to tell each other what Jesus would think of us.
Taxpayer and Sarah
Excellent job not stooping to this level.
Aaron
I hope I am around to see Black African-Americans wake up.
Taxpayer
You know that legal does not equal right. It is a weak arguement to defend the institution of slavery based on the legality of it at the time. People knew it was wrong back then, regardless of the law.
123456
What is your problem? I disagree with taxpayer,Sarah, etc., but to say they are ”dumb” or going to ”hell”? You are never going to have a useful discussion with anyone on this blog speaking to people in this manner. I disagree a lot with people, and they with me, but never have we insulted each other’s intelligence or had the gall to tell each other what Jesus would think of us.
Taxpayer and Sarah
Excellent job not stooping to this level.
Aaron
I hope I am around to see Black African-Americans wake up.
Let’s go ahead with reparations to the descendants of slaves and just to convince everyone of our sincerity we should prosecute the descendants of slave holders as well. Disregard the fact that they were legally allowed to do so, it was later established as wrong so let’s get ‘em.
Numbedout, don’t you think there can be a position between these two extremes? Between holding people accountable for the sins of their ancestors, and doing nothing at all to address the legacy of slavery?
This is a history we all share. It is the story of our nation. None of us are responsible for slavery, and we certainly don’t bear any guilt, but aren’t we responsible for acknowledging that past and trying to address it?
“Let’s go ahead with reparations to the descendants of slaves and just to convince everyone of our sincerity”
We as a country have given them billions already in education, housing, and food subsidies, let along preface in hiring the no compete clause, its called Affirmative action. Shall I go on?