On July 29, 2008, the House of Representatives passed a resolution apologizing for slavery and ‘Jim Crow’ laws. While many states have apologized for slavery, this is the first time a branch of the federal government has done so. The only problem with this resolution is that it did not happen decades ago.
While the House resolution is the first time the federal government has apologized for slavery that occurred more than 400 years ago, it has apologized to Japanese-Americans for their interment during World War II and to native Hawaiians for the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1893.
In passing the resolution, the House acknowledged the “injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow.” The resolution apologized to African Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow. Furthermore, the resolution expressed its commitment 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.
We hope the Senate will quickly pass a parallel resolution and that President Bush will publicly endorse it.
Yet we must ask: Is an apology enough?
Some members of the African-American community have called on lawmakers to give cash payments or other financial benefits to descendents of slaves as compensation for the suffering caused by slavery. In 1988, when Congress passed and President Reagan signed an act apologizing to the 120,000 Japanese-Americans who were held in detention camps during World War II, the 60,000 detainees who were alive at the time each received $20,000 from the government. Yet Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama opposes offering reparations to the descendants of slaves, putting him at odds with some black groups and leaders. He believes that government should instead combat the legacy of slavery by improving schools, health care, and the economy for all.
Social workers know the first step in recovery is admitting there is a problem. The US has now admitted that there are lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow. What should happen next?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
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3 comments:
In this area, I agree with Mr. Obama. Plus the "payments" have already been institutionalized thru affirmative action.
Plus with Mr. Obama making his speech tonight, perhaps it is time to confess that we've come a long way...whatever our political views, we can all be proud that the Dems have shown the "Dream" has come true. Martin would be proud.
That is exactly what genuine democracy is all about. Now lets elect our first Black President Obama !!!!!
He would indeed, as are we.
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