United States Government Apologizes For Slavery

I think it's about time too and I agree with your sentiments. I'm just wondering when they're going to apologize to the Irish immigrants who were treated horribly, too, and don't ever get any press about that? Can you tell I'm an Irish lass?

I think it's a start but it's evident that we haven't come too far since response number two is still calling black Americans/African Americans by the term of negros.

Sounds all right, but the ones who apologized did not enslave the Negros. I can understand Isaiah, David, Solomon, Zecheriah, and the other prophets apologizing to God for the sins of the people, because they had sinned against God, but the Negroes that were enslaved were not gods. And what about the other people who were enslaved who did not have dark skin and black curly hair? I mean many of us white people were descendants of slaves. Does it mean that an Italian the descendant of an ancient Roman, an English descendant of an Anglo-Saxon, a Dane, descendant of a Viking, or a Frenchman descendant of a Norman, should they not apologize to those who are now poor or lower middle class because their ancestors were reduced to slavery? And can one compensate? Should all the white people in the Southern United States lose their jobs and their homes and those be given to the black people? I mean where does it stop?

It's about time, Rozie! I hope it's a sign of things to come because we still do have a long ways to go. I honestly can't believe it took this long. I know the people who are living today aren't the ones who owned slaves but sometimes it's just right to do the right thing, pardon the repetition here. Annie

While I agrea, it was a nice thing to do and long overdue, I have fears. What comes next? Repairation? If an apology is as far as it goes, then fine, I think it's a great move and LONG in comming. Unfortunately we already hear grumblings that it isn't enough. State Rep. Talibdin El-Amin is already quoted in this same article that "A mere apology doesn't do anything for me". "An apology is a necessary first step because it recognizes a wrongdoing", says Hilary Shelton of the NAACP. A first step? what other steps need to be taken???? What would be enough? How much money? Land? Special considerations for thngs like jobs? college? A nation state of their own? Enslavement of white people? I guess the fact that Mr. El-Amin is a black american serving in the Mo. house of represnatives, IN THE DEEP SOUTH, something that would have been an absolute fantasy and laughable a mere 50 years ago, doesn't mean anything to him. I guess the fact that there is an unprecidented number of black americans enjoying a great deal of financial and professional success means nothing. there are those who call such people "toms", and claim they only got there because the either kissed white arses or because they had helping hands form people like jessie jackson and thatthey are rare exceptions. NO! they got there because they worked their fingers to the bones like everyone else to do it because they wanted the best for themselves and their families and their country. I guess the fact that if you look at government today, it is CHOCK FULL of various ethnicity even at the highest level isn't enough. A black woman holding the highest cabinate position in the land, that was previously held by a Black man isn't enough. I guess the fact that we have a black amercian running succesfully for what many consider the most powerfull position in the world isn't enough. The illusion that there is still widespread and rampant institutional racism is trumped by the fact that black america is now part of this same institution. I'm not saying that there isn't racism in this country. There will always be some, it's a fact of human nature. But the days of the Jessie Jacksons and Jeramiah Wright are gone. The upcomming generation now entering the voting ring are vastly non-racial in their views now, the stark transformation that has been happening over the last few generations is now comming to fruit. The fruit tended by people like Dr. King and Rosa Parks. THANK GOD for them. They would be proud to see what is happening today. But it isn't enough?

Rozie, I agree, slavery is and was a terrible chapter in our country's history. One that should be apologized for but not paid for forever and forever! My greatest qualm with the apology is just one question: When do the blacks of America get the apology from the people who actually sold them into slavery---their own people!

Will they also apologize for the displacement and killing of the American Indians? They deserve the same justice too.

Will a government apology change the attitude of some people? The government will not change people as a discussion about moving to a small town in Idaho as shown IBWISE. he moved his family there to get away from the bigotry and has found it there too. There are people that will always be raciest and all the apologies won't change that.

Well it's long overdue for sure, no doubt, and for now that is all I can say. But the internal, psychological damage has already been done and to me, no apology can ever make up for that. It's bad enough you have to serve folks for no pay for the rest of your natural life, but then to feel bad because THEY took you from your land and make you do this? then made you feel like you aren't nothing, not even dirt? just my humble opinion.

I feel this way Rozie, why should I apologize for something I had no part of? Nor did any of the people, black or white or what ever the nationality, that are alive today had anything to do with it. I will not apologize for someone else's wrong doing. I agree that it was wrong but I did not do it so I'm not going to apologize for something I did not do. Besides, if we really want to get right down to it, every nationality has been a slave at one point or another. Blacks aren't the only one's, white's, hispanics, koreans, chinese... all of the nationalities have been a slave at one time or another so are we all to keep this grudge going against each other or are we to move on and let it go? Geeze, I say "GET OVER IT ALREADY!" Why keep this fire going? This nation is never going to heal if we keep this going.

Let me dive in and give my opinion; I'm just glad I can swim. I think it is time the US government issued an official apology for slavery and Jim Crow laws. I don't know how much it really means at this time, though, since it should have been done many years ago. I guess it really is better late than never. I do not think that personal reparations are warranted or necessary. The people who could have benefited are long since gone and what price could possibly be enough for a human beings freedom? Reparations in programs aimed to help people is the way I would go. I do think that this country is long overdue to truly aid those less fortunate. I'm not talking about welfare programs, but about educational opportunities and training for real jobs. Not a hand out but a hand up. And while we are patting ourselves on the back as a Nation for apologizing to one group, why don't we do something to stop the trafficking in human beings that is going on now? Slavery is still alive and well all over the world. http://www.humantrafficking.org/