The Senate today apologized for slavery.
A little late, some may say.
But it is a historic gesture, nonetheless, at a time when a nation that once condoned the enslavement of workers and sanctioned racial discrimination for many decades afterward has seated its first African-American president and its first African-American attorney general, President Barack Obama and A.G. Eric Holder Jr.
This non-binding resolution apologizing for slavery and racial segregation also was long-sought. Iowa's Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) first introduced the measure years ago. He wanted to see it passed today, on the eve of Juneteenth - a day that marks the end of the Civil War and release of African Americans from slavery.
The Senate voted unanimously.
The House is expected to act soon, with a celebration planned next month in the Rotunda of a Capitol built with slave labor.
The resolution carries a disclaimer warning that nothing about this act supports or authorizes any reparations.
"In the nearly 150 years since the Emancipation Proclamation, America has taken serious and sincere steps to heal the deep wounds of one of history's greatest crimes against humanity,'' Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said today. " This resolution is another one of those steps.''
So, a group of people who never owned slaves has apologized to a group of people who never were slaves. Your government in action.
Although the resolution carries a disclaimer, it is the next step toward reparations...I guarantee it.
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