Slavery apology has disclaimer

The Senate passed a resolution Thursday calling on the U.S. to apologize officially for the enslavement and segregation of millions of African-Americans and to acknowledge ¡°the fundamental injustice, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws.¡±

The resolution, sponsored with little fanfare by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, passed on a voice vote. It now moves to the House of Representatives, where it may meet an unlikely foe: members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Several CBC members expressed concerns Thursday about a disclaimer that states that ¡°nothing in this resolution authorizes or supports any claim against the United States; or serves as a settlement of any claim against the United States.¡±

The CBC members think that the disclaimer is an attempt to stave off reparations claims from the descendants of slaves. Congressional Black Caucus chair Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said her organization is studying the language of Harkin¡¯s resolution.

Other CBC members said they¡¯ve read it and don¡¯t like it.

¡°Putting in a disclaimer takes away from the meaning of an apology,¡± said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. ¡°A number of us are prepared to vote against it in its present form. There are several members of the Progressive Caucus who feel the same way.¡±

Thompson and other CBC members noted that a 1988 apology the government issued to Japanese-Americans held in U.S. camps during World War II had no disclaimer and didn¡¯t prevent them from receiving compensation.

William Douglas

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