Virginia apologizes for slavery

[MsLoving]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070225/...lavery_apology

Virginia apologizes for role in slavery

By LARRY O'DELL, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 9 minutes ago

Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express "profound regret" for the state's role in slavery.

Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has apologized for slavery, although Missouri lawmakers are considering such a measure. The resolution does not carry the weight of law but sends an important symbolic message, supporters said.

"This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution," said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates.

The resolution passed the House 96-0 and cleared the 40-member Senate on a unanimous voice vote. It does not require Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's approval.

The measure also expressed regret for "the exploitation of Native Americans."

The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619. Richmond, home to a popular boulevard lined with statues of Confederate heroes, later became another point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub.

The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery "ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation's history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding."

In Virginia, black voter turnout was suppressed with a poll tax and literacy tests before those practices were struck down by federal courts, and state leaders responded to federally ordered school desegregation with a "Massive Resistance" movement in the 1950s and early '60s. Some communities created exclusive whites-only schools.

The apology is the latest in a series of strides Virginia has made in overcoming its segregationist past. Virginia was the first state to elect a black governor — L. Douglas Wilder in 1989 — and the Legislature took a step toward atoning for Massive Resistance in 2004 by creating a scholarship fund for blacks whose schools were shut down between 1954 and 1964.

Among those voting for the measure was Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, an 80-year-old Republican who infuriated black leaders last month by saying "black citizens should get over" slavery.

After enduring a barrage of criticism, Hargrove successfully co-sponsored a resolution calling on Virginia to celebrate "Juneteenth," a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

[Mamazen]

Originally Posted by MsLoving

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070225/...lavery_apology

Virginia apologizes for role in slavery

By LARRY O'DELL, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 9 minutes ago

Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express "profound regret" for the state's role in slavery.

Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has apologized for slavery, although Missouri lawmakers are considering such a measure. The resolution does not carry the weight of law but sends an important symbolic message, supporters said.

"This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution," said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates.

The resolution passed the House 96-0 and cleared the 40-member Senate on a unanimous voice vote. It does not require Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's approval.

The measure also expressed regret for "the exploitation of Native Americans."

The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619. Richmond, home to a popular boulevard lined with statues of Confederate heroes, later became another point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub.

The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery "ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation's history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding."

In Virginia, black voter turnout was suppressed with a poll tax and literacy tests before those practices were struck down by federal courts, and state leaders responded to federally ordered school desegregation with a "Massive Resistance" movement in the 1950s and early '60s. Some communities created exclusive whites-only schools.

The apology is the latest in a series of strides Virginia has made in overcoming its segregationist past. Virginia was the first state to elect a black governor — L. Douglas Wilder in 1989 — and the Legislature took a step toward atoning for Massive Resistance in 2004 by creating a scholarship fund for blacks whose schools were shut down between 1954 and 1964.

Among those voting for the measure was Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, an 80-year-old Republican who infuriated black leaders last month by saying "black citizens should get over" slavery.

After enduring a barrage of criticism, Hargrove successfully co-sponsored a resolution calling on Virginia to celebrate "Juneteenth," a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

142 years late and many dollars short.

It will mean something when it has more than just symbolism behind it.

[MsLoving]

Again I agree with you Mamazen...

This one (meaning article) made me pretty angry... but I just thought I post it so everyone can see what this YT think he is giving us ..

Apologies, regrets, and wait a celebration of 400th anniversary of Jamestown,

Is that all an apology… well my ancestors have been beaten, beaten and beaten again, they have been killed, raped and today we are still getting this treatment .. WTF

400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619.

WTF some now why would YT use that as a celebration? They could have apologized 50 years from this date…what have they given US as a people but more heartache, pain, mischief, and still have us in slavery today…

Forget the apology give to the Afrikans, Afrikan decents/Blacks what is theres what they took from us.. now that they are over in AfriKa and Europe gathering all together that is not there getting rich off the land of the Ancestors, these jacked up YT’s wish to apologize? Well I sure wish I could have been apart of that forum.

I’m not one that is swayed towards any enemy. Give us what is Ours is the only apology they can give… if the apology was legit, they wouldn’t have us as slaves today, they wouldn’t be over there utilizing and stealing our resources and our land, we wouldn’t have to rely on their gov’t their decisions …but we will be in our own home our own nation continuing to build the great nation and move forward..

Peace

[Elisa Keisha]

keep the words,only facts count and the fact is american goverment and economy is not only gettin benefit from the past opression but opressing right now at this very second in many parts of the world, sometimes with the same anti-human methods.
So keep the words and show me actions.

[MsLoving]

I know that's right Sistah.

many of our people need to be in that forum and represent and tell them how we really feel...

That apology is giving us nothing...nothing

peace

[Nefertiti]

How is it we can forgive something that will have a forever lasting effect on Afrikans here in Amerikkka!!! there's no way we can and shall accept this!!! what has been afflicted upon us is the MOST TRAUMATIC event in the history of the world!...They want to apologise(bullsh_t) but dont want to give us reparations, KKKrackkka is the biggest thief ever!!! When you can take a whole entire race of people and turn them inside out is just mind blowing! whoever was the head speaker or whoever came up with the idea or whatever should be spit on!!!

[Pain]

It's gonna make some black folk feel a lil' better. That's why they do it. Natives get a lil' restless? Well put'em back to rest/ sleep.

[Mamazen]

Originally Posted by Pain

It's gonna make some black folk feel a lil' better. That's why they do it. Natives get a lil' restless? Well put'em back to rest/ sleep.

Especially with Obama running for president...

With Amerikkka on the front page with this, it only solidifies the front that is being perpetuated....

[Nefertiti]

Originally Posted by Pain

It's gonna make some black folk feel a lil' better. That's why they do it. Natives get a lil' restless? Well put'em back to rest/ sleep.

This is not directed towards you! f_ _k that!!!,thats some bullsh_t Wake UP BlACK PEOPLE kkkrackkka got some nerve..."Oh were sorry for the atrocities we've cause your people from taking you from your native land bringing you's to the Amerikkka's for our personal gain stripping you of everything you've ever known, your name, your culture...hell even your thought process(psycological damage)"...but you's should be happy because we have a black candidate running for president and condi is in office and you guys come such a long way from the plantation and I personally(whoever speaking) really dont give a f_ _k about you but we feel we should apologise to some of you church going christian white jesus loving _igga's Because we feel its time you guys should just get over it!!! and we need votes! LOVE YA..._ULLSHIT!!!...WHAT?

[MsLoving]

Like you said at the beginning Fu** that .. these YT's are on Crack ...

Originally Posted by Nefertiti

This is not directed towards you! f_ _k that!!!,thats some bullsh_t Wake UP BlACK PEOPLE kkkrackkka got some nerve..."Oh were sorry for the atrocities we've cause your people from taking you from your native land bringing you's to the Amerikkka's for our personal gain stripping you of everything you've ever known, your name, your culture...hell even your thought process(psycological damage)"...but you's should be happy because we have a black candidate running for president and condi is in office and you guys come such a long way from the plantation and I personally(whoever speaking) really dont give a f_ _k about you but we feel we should apologise to some of you church going christian white jesus loving _igga's Because we feel its time you guys should just get over it!!! and we need votes! LOVE YA..._ULLSHIT!!!...WHAT?

[MsLoving]

YT is the one who should be popularizing the jails arrested for the robbery they have done .. they are cheats and everything bad...they feel they owe us nothing but a MF apology .. when will Black People wake the hell up .. and stop kissing the YT's azz and representing YT incognito ..just so they can say they have.. condi is an Aunt Jane .. and that is all she is and ever will be.. and Obama is no different... what have he done for the black people lately besides talk .. like YT taught him to do ..

yeah ok .. amerikkka and all those YT's smoking that dope need to recognize Afrikan/Black people want what is rightfully theirs they can keep their stank apologies..

Originally Posted by Nefertiti

How is it we can forgive something that will have a forever lasting effect on Afrikans here in Amerikkka!!! there's no way we can and shall accept this!!! what has been afflicted upon us is the MOST TRAUMATIC event in the history of the world!...They want to apologise(bullsh_t) but dont want to give us reparations, KKKrackkka is the biggest thief ever!!! When you can take a whole entire race of people and turn them inside out is just mind blowing! whoever was the head speaker or whoever came up with the idea or whatever should be spit on!!!

[Jalili]

Originally Posted by Mamazen

142 years late and many dollars short.

It will mean something when it has more than just symbolism behind it.

Exactly why say sorry if you aren't going to make up for the pain you caused.