House of Representatives Apologizes for Jim Crow Laws, slavery by Kashika Sahay
Thu, Jul 31, 2008 Earlier this week, the House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution apologizing for the Jim Crow Laws and slavery. The apology resolution was authored by Steve Cohen (D-Tenn) and co-sponsored by 140 lawmakers, including two Republicans.
From 1850 to the 1960s after slavery was made illegal, Jim Crow laws made racial segregation legal. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed segregation and made African Americans “equal citizens”.
The text of the non-binding resolution accepted by the House on Tuesday night is divided into three parts. First, it acknowledges the "injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow." Secondly, it apologizes to African Americans for the “wrongs committed against them and their ancestors” and finally, the resolution commits to rectify lingering consequences… and stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.”
Cohen, a long-time advocate for civil rights, issued the following statement, Wednesday, on his website. “This is a historic moment in the ongoing struggle for civil rights in this country, and I hope that this legislation can serve to open the dialogue on race and equality for all. Apologies are not empty gestures, but are a necessary first step towards any sort of reconciliation between people.”
Critics speculate that Cohen’s drive to get this resolution passed is not purely altruistic. Cohen faces a strong black candidate in the upcoming primaries for re-election. Memphis has a predominately black constituency.
Nevertheless, the resolution is a milestone because this is the first time a branch of the federal the government has issued an apology. In the past, many states including Florida, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia have apologized for the wrongs of slavery. According to the Washington Post, Senator Tim Harkin Iowa is looking to sponsor a companion resolution in the Senate.
In the past, the government has apologized to other ethnic groups after wrongful injustices. For example, in April the Senate passed a resolution apologizing to Native Americans for “the many instances of violence, maltreatment and neglect.” Congress has also apologized to native Hawaiians for overthrowing their kingdom and Japanese Americans for abuses during World War II.
Congress has been considering a similar apology to the African American community for some time, but feared that such a statement would increase demands for reparations. Black activists have sought reparations from private companies including banks, insurers, and railroads as a form of apology for the injustices faced by their ancestors.
According to CNN.com, “In 1988, 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.”
After the resolution was passed, Cohen gave a speech on the floor of the House. “This is a symbolic resolution but hopefully it will begin a dialogue where people will open their hearts and their minds to the problems that face this country, from racism that exists in this country on both sides and which must end...” he said. |
