Comments on: U.S. House of Representatives Apologize for Slavery

By: Nuriddeen

Nuriddeen — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:12:11 +0000

Was this event televised? Ive only heard about it on black news websites. Why hasnt this made mainstream news? I saw only a one page article in CNN. Why isnt this a bigger deal. Most people dont even know this happened.

By: tan renrut

tan renrut — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:00:45 +0000

Since America has crossed the Rubicon of self denial, like Caesar there can be no turning back.

By: tan renrut

tan renrut — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:56:47 +0000

I think the apology to African American present and long since dead is necessary.
I wonder what took this step so long.
As the United States championed Human Rights around the world; a civil apology was overlooked at home.
Wonder if all those Africans of the Diaspora in their graves understand.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:42:52 +0000

Congress overstepped it’s authority when they apologized “..in the name of the people of the United States.” I never gave Congress leave to apologize for me. I’ve never owned a slave, none of my ancestors ever owned a slave, and two of them where themselves sent here in chains and sold as indentured servants.

Had the House simply stated that “In the name of the U.S. Goverment, we apologize for Government’s role in supporting both slavery and Jim Crow.” I would have no problem. As it stands, the House can join hands and all skip into Hades.

Additionally, Jim Crow were state laws, so why aren’t the states that passed and enforced these laws apologizing?

By: MrsGrapevine

MrsGrapevine — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:45:37 +0000

Last week it was on the news behind the McCain “controversial ads,” I hope this week it makes first page, and peak hours of broadcasting…

By: David Schraub

David Schraub — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:54:49 +0000

Steve Cohen, not John Cohen. And I think Jack and Jill Politics has the right line on him.

I think it’s a good thing when politicians who are elected by predominantly Black electorates feel accountable to the Black community. So regardless of whether Cohen sponsored this legislation “out of the goodness of his heart”, or simply as a election-year achievement, either way it’s a democratic success story.

By: smadin

smadin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:14:44 +0000

My view (with full cognizance that as a white dude, I cannot fully understand the PoC experience in America) is that this is too little and too late, but that it (or something like it) is also good and necessary. As you say, Kevin, it’s symbolic, but symbolism is significant. (Of course, it’s also partly Cohen trying to get reelected — but I don’t think that really takes away from its virtues.) It needs to be followed up with action, and I think we all know that action will be slower and smaller than we’d like, but the acknowledgment and apology is, I think, an inescapably necessary first step. It’s a lot harder to even think about fixing things you haven’t admitted are problems.

By: cooper

cooper — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:32:09 +0000

I saw this yesterday, and my first thought was not soon enough.I I read it a couple of times, and though certainly the words won’t change things it was necessary, it had to be said.

I would like to see how they plan to….

“rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.”

Admitting the lingering consequences is far from actually trying to institute policy which would abrogate those consequences, but it certainly could be basis for such policy.