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    HJR 194 PDF

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    Keith Muhammad: Bey
    This document is a House Resolution from 2007 apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African Americans in the United States. It provides background on the history of slavery from 1619 to 1865, as well as the system of racial segregation known as Jim Crow that existed into the 1960s. It acknowledges the ongoing consequences of slavery and Jim Crow, and recognizes that a formal apology is an important step toward racial reconciliation. The resolution apologizes to African Americans on behalf of the United States people for the wrongs of slavery and Jim Crow, and expresses commitment to rectifying their lingering consequences.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    HJR 194 PDF

    Uploaded by

    Keith Muhammad: Bey
    283 views4 pages
    This document is a House Resolution from 2007 apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African Americans in the United States. It provides background on the history of slavery from 1619 to 1865, as well as the system of racial segregation known as Jim Crow that existed into the 1960s. It acknowledges the ongoing consequences of slavery and Jim Crow, and recognizes that a formal apology is an important step toward racial reconciliation. The resolution apologizes to African Americans on behalf of the United States people for the wrongs of slavery and Jim Crow, and expresses commitment to rectifying their lingering consequences.

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    HJR-194.pdf

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    This document is a House Resolution from 2007 apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African Americans in the United States. It provides background on the history of slavery from 1619 to 1865, as well as the system of racial segregation known as Jim Crow that existed into the 1960s. It acknowledges the ongoing consequences of slavery and Jim Crow, and recognizes that a formal apology is an important step toward racial reconciliation. The resolution apologizes to African Americans on behalf of the United States people for the wrongs of slavery and Jim Crow, and expresses commitment to rectifying their lingering consequences.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    283 views4 pages

    HJR 194 PDF

    Uploaded by

    Keith Muhammad: Bey
    This document is a House Resolution from 2007 apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African Americans in the United States. It provides background on the history of slavery from 1619 to 1865, as well as the system of racial segregation known as Jim Crow that existed into the 1960s. It acknowledges the ongoing consequences of slavery and Jim Crow, and recognizes that a formal apology is an important step toward racial reconciliation. The resolution apologizes to African Americans on behalf of the United States people for the wrongs of slavery and Jim Crow, and expresses commitment to rectifying their lingering consequences.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    IV

    110TH CONGRESS
    1ST SESSION

    H. RES. 194

    Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans.

    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


    FEBRUARY 27, 2007
    Mr. COHEN (for himself, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of
    Texas, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. WEXLER, Ms. KILPATRICK, Ms.
    WOOLSEY, Mr. PALLONE, Ms. LEE, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY,
    Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr.
    CAPUANO, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. ELLISON, Mr.
    AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Ms. WATSON, Mr. HINCHEY,
    Mr. CLEAVER, Ms. CARSON, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. DAVIS of
    Alabama, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. HARE, Mr.
    KENNEDY, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. HODES, Mr. FILNER, Mr. HONDA, and
    Mr. KUCINICH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
    the Committee on the Judiciary

    RESOLUTION
    Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of
    African-Americans.

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    Whereas millions of Africans and their descendants were


    enslaved in the United States and the 13 American colonies from 1619 through 1865;
    Whereas slavery in America resembled no other form of involuntary servitude known in history, as Africans were captured and sold at auction like inanimate objects or animals;

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    2
    Whereas Africans forced into slavery were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized, and subjected to the indignity of
    being stripped of their names and heritage;
    Whereas enslaved families were torn apart after having been
    sold separately from one another;
    Whereas the system of slavery and the visceral racism against
    persons of African descent upon which it depended became entrenched in the Nations social fabric;
    Whereas slavery was not officially abolished until the passage
    of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1865 after the end of the Civil War, which was
    fought over the slavery issue;
    Whereas after emancipation from 246 years of slavery, African-Americans soon saw the fleeting political, social, and
    economic gains they made during Reconstruction eviscerated by virulent racism, lynchings, disenfranchisement,
    Black Codes, and racial segregation laws that imposed a
    rigid system of officially sanctioned racial segregation in
    virtually all areas of life;
    Whereas the system of de jure racial segregation known as
    Jim Crow, which arose in certain parts of the Nation
    following the Civil War to create separate and unequal
    societies for whites and African-Americans, was a direct
    result of the racism against persons of African descent
    engendered by slavery;

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    Whereas the system of Jim Crow laws officially existed into


    the 1960sa century after the official end of slavery in
    Americauntil Congress took action to end it, but the
    vestiges of Jim Crow continue to this day;
    Whereas African-Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crowlong after both sysHRES 194 IH
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    3
    tems were formally abolishedthrough enormous damage
    and loss, both tangible and intangible, including the loss
    of human dignity and liberty, the frustration of careers
    and professional lives, and the long-term loss of income
    and opportunity;
    Whereas the story of the enslavement and de jure segregation
    of African-Americans and the dehumanizing atrocities
    committed against them should not be purged from or
    minimized in the telling of American history;
    Whereas on July 8, 2003, during a trip to Goree Island, Senegal, a former slave port, President George W. Bush acknowledged slaverys continuing legacy in American life
    and the need to confront that legacy when he stated that
    slavery was . . . one of the greatest crimes of history
    . . . The racial bigotry fed by slavery did not end with
    slavery or with segregation. And many of the issues that
    still trouble America have roots in the bitter experience
    of other times. But however long the journey, our destiny
    is set: liberty and justice for all.;
    Whereas President Bill Clinton also acknowledged the deepseated problems caused by the continuing legacy of racism against African-Americans that began with slavery
    when he initiated a national dialogue about race;

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    Whereas a genuine apology is an important and necessary


    first step in the process of racial reconciliation;
    Whereas an apology for centuries of brutal dehumanization
    and injustices cannot erase the past, but confession of
    the wrongs committed can speed racial healing and reconciliation and help Americans confront the ghosts of
    their past;

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    4
    Whereas the legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia has
    recently taken the lead in adopting a resolution officially
    expressing appropriate remorse for slavery and other
    State legislatures are considering similar resolutions; and
    Whereas it is important for this country, which legally recognized slavery through its Constitution and its laws, to
    make a formal apology for slavery and for its successor,
    Jim Crow, so that it can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all of its citizens:
    Now, therefore, be it
    1

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives

    (1) acknowledges the fundamental injustice,

    cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and

    Jim Crow;

    (2) apologizes 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; and

    (3) expresses its commitment to rectify the lin-

    10

    gering consequences of the misdeeds committed

    11

    against African-Americans under slavery and Jim

    12

    Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights

    13

    violations in the future.

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