Senate expected to debate apologizing for slavery

[trof]

Thursday, April 12, 2007
DAVID WHITE
News staff writer
MONTGOMERY - The state Senate today likely will debate a resolution "expressing profound regret for Alabama's role in slavery."

The six-page resolution, introduced Wednesday by Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, says "an apology for centuries of brutal dehumanization and injustices cannot erase the past, but confession of the wrongs can speed racial healing and reconciliation and help African-American and white citizens confront the ghosts of their collective pasts together."

Sanders said it is modeled after one passed recently by Virginia lawmakers. The North Carolina House and Senate have passed a similar measure and Georgia is considering a proposal. Maryland lawmakers approved their own apology for slavery late last month.

The resolution recounts a history of slavery, and says that "to prime Africans for slavery, the fundamental values of the Africans were shattered, they were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized, and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and heritage, women and girls were raped, and families were disassembled as husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, and fathers and sons were sold into slavery apart from one another."

Twelve Democratic senators by early Wednesday afternoon had signed on as co-sponsors. But some senators expressed doubts.

"I have problems apologizing simply for something that I had no part in, and God knows I would never have a part in," Sen. Charles Bishop, R-Arley, told Sanders on the Senate floor.

Sen. Scott Beason, R-Fultondale, said in an interview that he opposes the measure.

"There's not anyone alive today who was a slave. There's not anybody alive today who owned a slave. So why do we continue to do this kind of thing every year or so and beat up on ourselves?" Beason said. "I don't understand it."

Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, said, "I had nothing to do with that. I don't feel like I ought to apologize for myself or on behalf of the state. That's ancient history, and I think we need to forget it and move on."
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1176365923266200.xml&coll=2

[Syrinx]

1. I guess I'm for it

Not especially enthusiastically.

I've never owned slaves, and as far as I know none of my ancestors did either.

It would probably be a good PR move. Nothing more. Nothing less.

[AUYellowDog]

2. A common misconception

People think that we're apologizing for slavery as individuals. We aren't. The point of such a bill is to apologize for the role that government played in condoning slavery. It's not saying "I, Hank Sanders, apologize for slavery." It's saying "The Alabama Legislature apologizes for the role it played in slavery." The debate needs to be reframed.

[Wiregrass Willie]

4. Here is one crime the AL Legislature should apologize for

It can be found in the October 1860 copy of Debow's Review --
that can be found online at The U of Michigan's MOA site --
Somethings are beyond the pale even for slave times.  

http://tinyurl.com/2q7byt


SLAVE LIFE PREFERRED BY NEGROES. 


A few days ago, Ben. H. Baker, Esq., says the Montgomery,
Alabama, Mail, visited the city, and caused to be introduced a
bill, in the Legislature, by which twelve free negroes are
allowed to become slaves. The bill passed both Houses, and was
signed by the Governor-the speedy transaction of the affair
being caused, mainly, by the entire confidence which members
of both Houses (in which he has frequently served, hitherto),
have in the personal integrity and fine intelligence of Mr.
Baker. The facts are briefly these: these negroes, men, women,
and children, have been reared by Mr. Young Edwards, of
Russell county, and have always lived with him as servants.
Lately, some one informed these negroes that, being free, the
Sheriff would be required to expel them, under a provision of
the Code, within thirty days. At this they were greatly
alarmed, and protested that they were unwilling to leave their
master, and were perfectly willing to remain as his slaves,
and in fact preferred it. Mr. Baker visited the negroes,
explained to them their position and rights fully; and the
upshot was, they induced him to come and lay their case before
the Legislature, asking it to allow them to become the slaves
of Mr. Edwards. The bill was accordingly passed. It provides
that the Probate Court of Russell shall have the negroes
brought before it, and diligently take testimony to ascertain
if any undue influence has been used to obtain their consent
to become slaves; and upon being satisfied that they,
wittingly and with full knowledge of their rights, desire to
enter a state of servitude, shall decree them to be the slaves
of the person they may choose to be their owner. These negroes
know what their own best interest is. They will be better fed
and clothed than ever Horace Greeley or Lucy Stone was, before
those worthies made money by shovelling the filth of
fanaticism; they will be better rewarded for their labor, than
any operative in any cotton mill, in all Lawrence; and, in
sickness and old age, forever, will be tended carefully, and
surrounded with all necessary comforts. And so they don't
choose to go into the wretchedness, privation, and squalor of
free negro life in the North.

[jody]

3. I don't see what affect such an apology will have on Alabama's economy, society, government, etc.