Cohen's Apology-for-Slavery Resolution Passes House
by Jackson BakerArticle Tools
H. Res. 194, the congressional resolution apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of blacks in America, was passed by acclamation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, giving the sponsor, 9th District congressman Steve Cohen, the second of two boosts as he began the penultimate week of his Democratic primary campaign for reelection.
On Monday, before his return to Washington for the congressional work week, Cohen had received the official endorsement of the two associations representing, respectively, members of the Memphis police and deputies of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.
The House vote in favor of Cohen's apology resolution came late on Tuesday, toward the end of congressional business. The congressman promptly issued the following statement:
"I am very proud that my colleagues in the House of Representatives passed our resolution apologizing for slavery and Jim Crow in the United States. 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. I thank Congressman John Conyers (MI-14), whose assistance in moving this resolution forward was indispensible, for his strong support for this bill. "
Cohen's earlier House speech on behalf of the resolution can be viewed at http://cohen.house.gov.
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Has the government ever officially apologized to Native Americans for stealing their land and murdering them?
How exactly does the bill process work in the House? I know that this resolution was introduced by Steve awhile back...is it just coincidence that it came to be voted on the week prior to the election?
I'm curious about that, too. The bill was introduced in February 2007.
I don't know if this will make race relations better but I don't see how it could make things worse. I do beleive that this stunt did not garner one more vote for Cohen.
PD, it's not a Native American district. It could have been if Andy Jackson hadn't run 'em all out. In the case of the Cherokee Nation, he defied a Supreme Court decision. My 2005 take on slavery is here: http://dailydocket.blogspot.com/2005/12/slavery.html
I'm just waiting for the commercial.
My guess is that Pelosi thinks she did him some kind of huge favor by holding the vote the week before the election, and will be expecting a favor of much greater value in return. You're right, Clyde, this is hardly a vote-getter.
I too wish to apologize to all former slaves. I would urge the US govt. to provide all victims of slavery with free health care, an annual six-figure pension, a Cadillac and a four-week vacation in Hawaii. Of course, this offer only applies to African-Americans who can document their enslavement. Offer is not transferable to the descendants of former slaves. Like the millions of other sons of immigrants, they'll just have to make their own way in America. Resolutions such as the one sponsored by Cohen only give false hope to African-American descendants of slaves who are looking for a handout or someone to blame for their problems.
One issue I see is that few people have actually read the bill. I read it some time ago when it was in the CA. If an honest person had to choose between describing it as "an apology" or as a "justification/basis for reparations", he/she would have to choose the later. As Cohen was quoted today in the CA, this bill is just the first step...
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