US Senate apologizes for slavery - is that all?

The US Senate has apologized publically on behalf of the nation to African Americans for its legacy of slavery and its government sanctioning racial segregation. The measure that was sponsored by Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin and Kansas Republican Sam Brownback spefically did not address the issue of whether the descendants of slaves are due financial reparations.

Apologies are cheap. Similar apologies were uttered for what was done against American natives and Austrian aboriginals. Little or nothing has been done meanwhile for improving their actual conditions. Nothing is ever going to change until things are really changed. Wrong words can be corrected with good words. Misdeeds are not corrected with words, but only with corrective deeds.

Words can be used to start off correction, but words can also be misused to stop victims from demanding real indemnity to be paid. Cosmic Eagles

News items on this topic

-- Senate adopts Harkin resolution apologizing for slavery DesMoinesRegister.com

"The U.S. Senate today voted unanimously to apologize on behalf of the nation to African Americans for its legacy of slavery and its government sanctioning of racial segregation. The measure, sponsored by Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin and Kansas Republican Sam Brownback, was brought up Thursday in time for Friday's Juneteenth observation. Juneteenth, typically June 19, is the name of the annual celebration of the emancipation of slaves."

"Below are Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin's remarks on the Senate floor prior to the vote on a concurrent resolution apologizing for slavery and government-sanctioned segregation.
Madam President, the clerk just read for the first time ever in this body what we should have done a long time ago. An apology for slavery and the Jim-Crow laws which, for a century after emancipation, deprived millions of Americans their basic human rights, equal justice under law and equal opportunities. Today the senate will unanimously make that apology."

Tom Harkin (Dem.)

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Rep. Sam Brownback, co-sponsor of the resolution

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--Senate approves resolution apologizing for slavery CNN

-- US Senate passes slavery apology MiamiHerald.com