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DEL.ICIO.USSlavery resolution will call for ‘contrition’ and ‘reconciliation’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia’s House of Representatives would acknowledge the history of slavery in America “with contrition” and call for “reconciliation” among all Georgians under a resolution a state lawmaker is preparing to introduce Monday.
A draft of Rep. Al Williams’ (D-Midway) four-page measure traces the history of slavery from ancient times to the arrival of slaves in Jamestown. The resolution also refers to slavery’s role in the Civil War, the subsequent lynchings of African-Americans and the system of Jim Crow laws that were designed to enforce racial segregation.
“In Georgia,” the resolution reads, “the vestiges of slavery are ever before African-American citizens, from the overt racism of hate groups to the subtle racism encountered when requesting health care, transacting business, buying a home, seeking quality public education and college admission, and enduring pretextual traffic stops and other indignities.”
Williams announced last week he would introduce the resolution after the Georgia NAACP called on Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue to issue an apology for the state’s role in slavery and Jim Crow laws. Perdue has so far declined to comment on the NAACP’s request.
“It’s symbolic. But it shows that we as legislators will not ignore the existence of this evil,” Williams, head of Georgia’s Legislative Black Caucus, said of his resolutioin. “Some of the great healings of all time come about because of symbolic gestures.”
Williams’ said he is seeking cosponsors for his resolution, which he plans to introduce in the House on Monday, the day the chamber reconvenes after a two-week break. He said he is also seeking a lawmaker who will introduce identical legislation in the Senate.
Williams’ resolution also makes an apparent comparison between slavery and the Holocaust.
“The crimes and persecution visited upon other people during World War II are acknowledged and embraced lest the world forget,” it reads, “yet the very mention of the broken promise of ’40 acres and a mule’ to former slaves or of the existence of racism today evokes denial from many quarters of any responsibility for the legally sanctioned deprivation of African-Americans of their endowed rights or for contemporary policies that perpetuate the status quo.”
Williams said he modeled his resolution on one that passed the Virginia legislature late last month. But unlike Williams’ resolution, the Virginia legislation uses the words “profound regret” in connection with slavery.
The chances of Williams’ resolution passing the House this year appear slim, since it is meeting with resistance from House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram.) Richardson has said he is not certain it should be the government’s role to apologize since “nobody was in office” when slavery existed. Plus, Williams has little time to move his resolution through the Legislature, which has passed day 26 of its 40-day session.
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