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. 
hs touched on it, but I guess it is worth repeating again as we have so often in this blog that it will take an effort by all, black and white and inbetween, to truly make a difference and move forward…
FTPD,
Justifying I think that it was because whenever one brings up a tit for tat type scenario in order to make light of another’s wrong, It is justifying. In this case by stating that slavery in America wasn’t any worst than what Africans did, so yes that is justifying. However, I know that we all would benefit greatly if we follow the guidance of hs above concerning amends. I could not agree with him more concerning this reparations ideal. There is much to deal with already concerning racism and hate against groups of people including crimes and other behaviors that are actually happening today that must be dealt with and laws enforced concerning, lets prove now with action that America is willing to do better as a people and government.
Thanks, has.
I feel so bad about slavery even though I personally never owned any. It makes me sick to think about it. Just awful! Is there any organization out there that takes donations from caucasians like myself that suffer from the guilt of slavery and really want to make a difference by giving reparations out of our own pockets to ease the terrible burden of guilt…even though I personally never owned any slaves. I would also encourage others to do the same…especially those descendants of the Africans and Arab slave traders that kidnapped and sold their African brothers into slavery. How guilty you must feel…even though you personally never kidnapped and sold anyone.
Trail of Tears? The American Indisn is STILL being enslaved on reservations against their will. Yet NOONE ever says anything about reparations, freeing them, or making an apology for stealing their entire country from them! WHY is it ALWAYS about blacks? NO ONE BLACK PERSON ALIVE TODAY EVER SUFFERED SLAVERY IN ANY FORM BY ANY ONE - NEVER!!! Now, if you can bring a survivor of slavery forward we’ll discuss an apology and maybe a stipend, BUT, since there aren’t any, and hasn’t been for many years, NOTHING IS DUE THEM! NOTHING~! It’s ALWAYS a ploy to get something for free and the stupid politicians fall for it and the more they give the more these people want - they are never satisfied. When this one is over they’ll think up another one! They know of every freebie the government has out there, and they’ll do what ever it takes to take advantage of it, then start yelping for more, more, and then more. It’s like feeding a tape worm! It won’t EVER be enuf, doesn’t anyone realize this?
Does it EVER enter into a black persons mind that no one owes THEM an apology for what happened BUT the white people are owed one by the blacks simply because of the 625,000 killed to free your butts! You never ever remember what it took to make you a free person, and the only thing you remember is what you’ve only HEARD about, NEVER EXPERIENCED!! An apology?? Never, not in a million years! YOU say ‘thank you’ instead!!!!