Virginia lawmakers apologize for slavery

cat's meow · #1 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 06:48 PM

An interesting article...

Quote:

Virginia lawmakers apologize for slavery
State assembly passes symbolic measure expressing ‘profound regret’

Updated: 6 minutes ago
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.

‘Insidious institutions and practices’
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.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

rob · #2 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 07:08 PM

Well I guess this is what one can expect from a world so concerned with politcal corectness. Virginia confesses its sins and is forgiven. Where will it all end? I have ancestors that owned slaves, but I didn't so I feel no reason to apologize for them. Seems that Virginia has feel to pressure once more.

cat's meow · #3 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 07:44 PM

I don't live in Virginia and I think it has to do with thier past. It is hard for me to say whether this does a great deal of good but I am not sure I am seeing it hurting anything. My ancestors owned slaves too, I am not sure that is a pertinant point to the discusson. Again, this has to do with the State of Virginia and thier history. I think there would be a better effect if Mississippi or Alabama did this (don't count on it though).

rob · #4 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 08:02 PM

What about the history of the United States. The slaves were brought to this county on northern ships. Has the states that allowed these vessles to dock apologized?

graybeard · #5 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

Well I guess this is what one can expect from a world so concerned with politcal corectness. Virginia confesses its sins and is forgiven. Where will it all end? I have ancestors that owned slaves, but I didn't so I feel no reason to apologize for them. Seems that Virginia has feel to pressure once more.

You can pick your nose but you can't pick your family. I have relatives on my Mother's side that fought for the Confederacy; my Father's ancestors didn't arrive in America until the late 1880s and settled in Ohio.
I have German, English, Cherokee and Jewish blood running through my veins.
Should I apologize to myself for what the "White Man" did to my relatives or for what the Germans did to my relatives. It's all too confusing and divisive; they ought to let it go. Geez it was 150 years ago.

freedomlover · #6 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 08:10 PM

Who the hell are they apologizing to? I am willing to bet that anyone who was a slave is dead.

rob · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graybeard

You can pick your nose but you can't pick your family. I have relatives on my Mother's side that fought for the Confederacy; my Father's ancestors didn't arrive in America until the late 1880s and settled in Ohio.
I have German, English, Cherokee and Jewish blood running through my veins.
Should I apologize to myself for what the "White Man" did to my relatives or for what the Germans did to my relatives. It's all too confusing and divisive; they ought to let it go. Geez it was 150 years ago.

gray, you are right about letting it go, but of course some will and others will look for a reason as to why they aren't the President.

freedomlover · #8 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

gray, you are right about letting it go, but of course some will and others will look for a reason as to why they aren't the President.

What?????????????

rob · #9 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedomlover

What?????????????

Freedom, I meant that some will let go of the slave roots and get on with their lives. Petey showed up and wants to party.

cat's meow · #10 (**permalink**) 02-24-2007, 08:16 PM

Again, the state of Virginia feels like they need to do this...is this a nation wide intitiative, I really doubt it. Read again, they mention the 'resistance' effort that was very strong during the civil rights are and that is int he last 50 years. I cannot speak for Virginia lawmakers but this is the road they choose to go down.