by The Associated Press Tuesday January 01, 2008, 9:43 AM
New Jersey would become the first northern state and the fifth state overall to apologize for slavery under a measure to be considered this week by state lawmakers.
"This is not too much to ask of the state of New Jersey," said Assemblyman William Payne, who sponsors the bill. "All that is being requested of New Jersey is to say three simple words: We are sorry."
Legislators in Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia have issued formal slavery apologies.
"If former Confederate states can take action like this, why can't a northeast state like New Jersey?" asked Payne, D-Essex.
But Republican lawmakers wonder if it would be relevant.
"Who living today is guilty of slave holding and thus capable of apologizing for the offense?" asked Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris. "And who living today is a former slave and thus capable of accepting the apology?
So how is a real apology even remotely possible, much less meaningful, given the long absence of both oppressor and victim?"
Payne, D-Essex, said a New Jersey apology would comfort black residents and set an example for other states.
The measure is set for a Thursday hearing by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. It hasn't received Senate consideration but must be adopted by Tuesday when the legislative session expires.
Wow. This and $1.50 and you can get a ride on the PATH train.
Instead of politicians focusing on what's killing people today, they focus on apologies for acts committed by people no one more recently on this Earth as our great, great, great grandparents.
Maybe this has symbolic importance, but I don't see it changing anything.
Wow. This and $1.50 and you can get a ride on the PATH train.
Instead of politicians focusing on what's killing people today, they focus on apologies for acts committed by people no one more recently on this Earth as our great, great, great grandparents.
Maybe this has symbolic importance, but I don't see it changing anything.
A ride on the PATH train until March 2nd.
Another hollow gesture that will get a lot of press but accomplish nothing.
Another hollow gesture that will get a lot of press but accomplish nothing.
Yes just a gesture but for those lawmakers that realize the affects of slavery just "didn't go away," its a small step in the right direction. Just look at the naive response of one of the lawmakers:
"Who living today is guilty of slave holding and thus capable of apologizing for the offense?" asked Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris. "And who living today is a former slave and thus capable of accepting the apology?
Mr Merkt....you are a small man looking at the big picture in very small print!
Apologies must be followed with real action; nevertheless, I think its a part of much needed healing. You can't just bury the slaves just because they have passed on. The actions and inactions of the United States and most of its states following the end of slavery are still being felt.
An apology for slavery is indeed a small step taken in the right direction. However, one step leads to another. The next step will see the end of dead beat dads in the inner city, followed by fathers supporting their sons and daughters ,no matter how many offspring they sire, without the courts getting involved, coupled with prison overpopulation by those who, by chance, are the descendants of slaves. Prisons, one day, may be converted into condos, with the reversal of black on black crime. Oh, yes, an apology is just one small step, but when Camden, Trenton, and Newark one day are stellar cities we can look back on that first step with nothing but good cheer.
An apology for slavery is indeed a small step taken in the right direction. However, one step leads to another. The next step will see the end of dead beat dads in the inner city, followed by fathers supporting their sons and daughters ,no matter how many offspring they sire, without the courts getting involved, coupled with prison overpopulation by those who, by chance, are the descendants of slaves. Prisons, one day, may be converted into condos, with the reversal of black on black crime. Oh, yes, an apology is just one small step, but when Camden, Trenton, and Newark one day are stellar cities we can look back on that first step with nothing but good cheer.
in America had been given their forty acres and a mule, perhaps black people today wouldn't be on the lower level of the totem pole. White people had such an advantage because of the profits earned from slavery and non payment of work done by slaves. So, if I were a white person today, I wouldn't be patting myself on the back for the position I have in society which wasn't earned. It was handed down from one generation to another generation without any real effort but much monetary compensation at the expense of black people.
in America had been given their forty acres and a mule, perhaps black people today wouldn't be on the lower level of the totem pole. White people had such an advantage because of the profits earned from slavery and non payment of work done by slaves. So, if I were a white person today, I wouldn't be patting myself on the back for the position I have in society which wasn't earned. It was handed down from one generation to another generation without any real effort but much monetary compensation at the expense of black people.
Apologize, but show black people the money.
Keep waiting. Better go out an earn it because if you wait for repartitions, you are going to grow very old doing so.
This is an election-year stunt and you are all falling for it.
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Apology for slavery considered by lawmakers
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