Virginia apologizes for role in slavery By LARRY O'DELL, Associated Press Writer RICHMOND, Va. - Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express "profound regret" for the state's role in slavery. Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has apologized for slavery, although Missouri lawmakers are considering such a measure. The resolution does not carry the weight of law but sends an important symbolic message, supporters said. "This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution," said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates. The resolution passed the House 96-0 and cleared the 40-member Senate on a unanimous voice vote. It does not require Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's approval. The measure also expressed regret for "the exploitation of Native Americans." The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619. Richmond, home to a popular boulevard lined with statues of Confederate heroes, later became another point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub. The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery "ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation's history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding." In Virginia, black voter turnout was suppressed with a poll tax and literacy tests before those practices were struck down by federal courts, and state leaders responded to federally ordered school desegregation with a "Massive Resistance" movement in the 1950s and early '60s. Some communities created exclusive whites-only schools. The apology is the latest in a series of strides Virginia has made in overcoming its segregationist past. Virginia was the first state to elect a black governor — L. Douglas Wilder in 1989 — and the Legislature took a step toward atoning for Massive Resistance in 2004 by creating a scholarship fund for blacks whose schools were shut down between 1954 and 1964. Among those voting for the measure was Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, an 80-year-old Republican who infuriated black leaders last month by saying "black citizens should get over" slavery. After enduring a barrage of criticism, Hargrove successfully co-sponsored a resolution calling on Virginia to celebrate "Juneteenth," a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
I think this is a great thing that the state of Virginia is doing. I really feel like this is a positive step in the right direction for this country. What do you all feel if anything about this?? Do you feel like this apology is enough, or do you think that there's something more that can be done to makeup for the slavery of african americans in this country? Here's the link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070225/ap_on_re_us/slavery_apology
First of all, it's not this generation's responsibility to "apologize" to us for the slavery of our ancestors. Secondly, what makes anyone think that an apology would be enough for robbing people of their freedom, their livelihood, their worth, their time, their opportunity, and their advancement as people and individuals? Every time I hear ridiculous stories like this, it's sickening and idiotic. The solution is not something as insignificant as an apology...the solution is to simply not enslave and not segregate people.
Please no!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your my man Bryant but I disagree big time. Leave the past in the past. IMHO we can't move forward if we keep "apologizing" for things in the past. I think it's even more ridiculous that someone has to apologize for things they didn't directly do! Listen, if we want to improve things lets start by improving education for inner city kids, educate people, and stop glorifying this filthy music that promotes all these negative images! Just my opinion.
I totally agree with Bmanz... They say "I'm sorry" adn all, but still won't give black ppl the opportunity to really be free from slavery consequences...no better schools, better housing, no better job opportunity...no, just a little written apology!! well, to say the least, a bit useless!! Peace!
thanks for your opinion bmanz. i thought it was a good gesture by them, but when i look at it from your perspective, maybe it is better if things like this are left in the past. hey, i'm still learning right. :wink:
Its all good Bryant. Its just my opinion anyway. No better than yours. I appreciate the fact that you're a genuine dude. Stay up bro!
They aren't really "apologizing"......they are going to say that they "regret" what happened......seems like a small difference but they are using different jargon to avoid any legal ramifications that could lead to the government having to pay reparations......what kind of shit is that......i'm not saying whether we should or should not have reparations as that issue is too complex..however........most whites say that "my ancestors didn't own slaves so why should I pay".....well most whites didn't put japanese in internment camps....but they still paid out....
Well, it is white nature to justify everything into their favour. Even when it is wrong. Like slavery. Alot of whites are so uneducated and very ignorant. Alot of times, you have your typical response. Such as "slavery happened so long ago, get over it", "I never owned a slave", and my favourite, "go back to your own country" Where to start. I cannot get over my great, great relatives being killed and shipped out like animals to north america, and the carribean. Whites nowadays never owned a slave, but north america is still benefitting from slave labour till today. So it's fair to benefit from slave labour, but not acknowlegde it. And last but not least, "go back to your country". Such comment make me laugh. I mean, after 400 years of free labour which built this country to what it is, why the hell should any blacks go back to africa? Why shouldn't we benefit from the hard free work from our ancestors? Plus most blacks in america have never even been to africa. It's like telling a white american go back to london. I have never seen a race destroy so many lives and people, and justify their actions for doing it. Iraq is the modern day africa. Invading the country, stealing there resources, forcing their way of living into their society,etc. All in the name of terrorism. Put some iraq people in a ship, chained up, and it's done. I can't speak for all blacks, but I don't want a apology. I just want slavery to be acknowldged the way it should be, and equality. But don't come with the equality crap when it's time to go to war. Then treat me like a nigger when you don't need me. That's why any blacks in the middle east right now, or fighting any white war are fools. But I agree with the japanese. Here in Canada, the asians in Vancouver (the west coast of canada) got some money from our government because of the head tax. It's was quite funny and pathetic at the same time. Shit, the asians must have suffered more huh?
well until the Native Americans are given their due....no progress will have been made....they probably suffered more than anyone and had their population virtually wiped out.....the only thing that helps some is the fact that so many blacks and even whites have native american blood in this country....of course that makes it worse actually since "our people" (you might say) are being ignored My mom and I had a debate about reparations though.....I'm not sure if it should be done or not....but.....how would one determine if a person is eligible to receive it......since a sizeable percentage of white americans have at least one relatively recent black ancestor (one in i think 5 generations).......would it be a sliding scale in which the higher percentage of "black" blood would earn you more money towards a set max amount for those with 100% African DNA......would someone like Barack Obama even be eligible....and what about those rare folks whose ancestors were free..........all these questions make me wonder if the thing is even possible
Soul Brotha, you're so right. I've always believed any black person in the military is being used but to each his own. I do not really care about an apology for slavery and quite rightly, slavery did happen a long time ago, with virtually all of its proponents dead. But it is completely moronic to debate the effects of slavery on blacks today. A lot of the lingering effects of slavery are still pervasive and 40 years of affirmative action isn't going to change 400 years of slavery and de facto slavery of another 100 years. Sometimes, it's unclear to me whether whites are naive, dumb or playing dumb about this issue because it really frustrates me when they open their mouths and say things like, "Well, slavery and Jim Crow are over", "Blacks can make it if they work hard" and my personal favorite, "How can America be racist when we have Oprah, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Bill Cosby". In their rather inane and folly attempt to "prove" that racism is non-existent in America, they throw in the names of the minorities who successes, they believe, trumps any evidence of racial disparities in America. Which is more telling of "equal opportunity", the fact that Oprah could buy and sell the land out from under most all of us, or the fact that the typical white family has eleven times the net worth of the typical black family thanks to past and present barriers to wealth accumulation, income and equal housing. Put simply, the answer of the question is in itself. In my opinion, the real way to apologize for slavery would be to eliminate all discriminatory barriers and bridge the gap so to speak - something which requires both the efforts of blacks and whites alike. No more discrimination in employment, housing, finance, education, justice and criminal system as well as every other superstructure of the American life. All though that might seem impossible but i'm sure there were some in 1754 who felt it was impossible to end slavery. Today, blacks can even own their own property. My point is, everything takes time with the will of God. Rather than some dumb ass apology, let's try to do things better and work for the future, blacks and whites alike. P.S. While we are at it, we can send black conservatives into gas chambers.
That's awfully "humane" of you, Lay. The brotherhood is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, A black conservative
SB, you're so right. Whites have destroyed, or oppressed, any culture that isn't like theirs. The Natives, Blacks, Mexicans, Iraqis, Hitler...hell, the English settlers in Canada did their best to eradicate the French culture. I hear so many white Ontarians complaining about the foreigners. I guess they forgot that their ancestors were once foreigners, too, but being a second or third generation Canadian makes them better than the ones who immigrate here to make a better life for their families. It's disgusting, and it makes me sick and sometimes ashamed to be white. Maybe I'd feel better if I thought we were making progress, but I really don't think we are, despite how evolved and civilized we claim to be.
lol, i was just kidding. But for real, black conservatives get on my fucking nerves. Even more than white conservatives. Black conservatives support people who would've kicked their black asses to the back of the bus in 1953.
It's a debate for another time and another thread. I can understand where you're coming from. I'm just conservative and Republican in my political views by nature, so it's not really about association for me as much as it is where my principles and values are. I will say that many black conservatives are simply misunderstood...as are good people on both sides of the aisle. But, also on both sides, there are the bad seeds.
