On June 18, 2009, in a historic move, the US Senate apologized for slavery almost 150 years after the start of the Civil War.
The resolution, passed by voice vote, said it was important for Americans to apologize for slavery “so they can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all people of the United States.” It was passed on the day before Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of slaves in 1865.
A disclaimer tacked on at the end said nothing in the resolution authorizes or supports reparations for slavery.
“Let us make no mistake: This resolution will not fix lingering injustices,” said Senator Tom Harkin, who first introduced the apology years ago. “While we are proud of this resolution and believe it is long overdue, the real work lies ahead.”
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The Iowa Democrat’s co-sponsor on the apology was Republican Senator Sam Brownback, whose state was dubbed “Bleeding Kansas” by newspaper editor Horace Greeley for its fierce battles over slavery.The resolution now moves to the House, which passed a similar measure in the last Congress. That measure did not, however, include the disclaimer about reparations.
In his floor remarks, Senator Roland Burris, Democrat of Illinois and the Senate’s only black member, said that the “disclaimer in no way would eliminate future actions that may be brought before this body that may deal with reparations.”
What does this mean for us in the fight for true restitution to those of us who are descendants of slaves in this country? Those of us who were denied our birth rights? Denied our inheritance of land that was earned with the blood of our ancestors?
Here in Chicago, like in many cities in this nation, many political leaders and private organizations like the Chicago – Ten Square Restitution Project have been fighting for the African Americans birth right to reparations for the atrocities of slavery.
"The future of race relations will be determined by reparations for slavery," U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) told a joint hearing of the Chicago City Council Finance and Human Relations committees in 2000.
Rush was among the first to testify at City Hall on whether descendants of African-American slaves deserve compensation from the U.S. government. "The concept of reparations is simple," he said. "Reparations are payable when a crime against humanity has been committed by one people against another. Certainly, we can all agree that 400 years of slavery constitutes a crime against humanity.
"The United States may choose to put its blinders on when it comes to reparations for African-Americans. But the horrendous nature of American slavery is well documented." Ignoring it, he said, would be "as ineffective as covering an open wound with a Band-Aid."
Rush said he was "uncertain on the amount" of any reparations. Claud Anderson, author of "Black Labor White Wealth; The Search for Power and Economic Justice," told the committee that reparations are needed because affirmative action isn't working for African-Americans.
Anderson, who said he wrote the first affirmative action plan in 1970, argued that black people are worse off now than immediately following the Civil War. "(Affirmative action) does nothing for black people and helps others coming into this country to piggyback on you," Anderson said.
Ald. Dorothy Tillman (3rd), an outspoken member of the council's black caucus, who crossed racial and ethnic lines to gather signatures of more than 20 colleagues who support hearings on the matter. Tillman compared the bid for reparations to the United States granting money to Japanese-Americans who were interned during World War II.
Under a 1988 Federal Restitution Law, about 80,000 survivors of the 120,000 Japanese-Americans sent to internment camps received roughly $20,000 apiece. "I think it's time for black folks to receive reparations, too." Tillman said. Asked how it would be possible to determine which blacks would be eligible for reparations, Tillman said: "When I look at blacks they are all direct descendants of slaves."
Tillman said that a cash settlement "might be impossible." But reparations advocates nationally are discussing such options as low-interest loans "to help rebuild the black community," special health initiatives targeted at African-Americans, and educational help, including scholarships, for black youngsters, she said.
Tillman acknowledged that state and federal governments ultimately will be the primary venues for deciding the reparations issue, but "the city can do some things" as well. She declined to elaborate. U.S. Rep.Danny Davis(D-Ill.) told the committee that many problems facing the African-American community -- poor health care, high unemployment and a disproportionate number of blacks in prison -- stem from the continuing effects of slavery.
After testifying, Davis said that by approving reparations Chicago would have an "opportunity to move head and shoulders above the rest of the country."
Chicago – Ten Square Restitution Project feels that the time is now.
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