By Jayar Jackson
The U.S House of Representatives is poised Tuesday to pass a resolution apologizing to Black Americans for slavery and the era of Jim Crow laws. Rep. Steve Cohen, who represents a prominently Black district in Memphis, has introduced the bill.
Once the resolution passes, as expected, the House will also acknowledge the injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws that segregated Blacks from Whites, providing an unequal life for Black Americans.
Although this is the first time a branch of the federal government will apologize for slavery, I’ve always wondered what the reasons behind these types of resolutions are. Considering the fact that the U.S. doesn’t foolishly deny these heinous acts took place in its past, one can only assume Rep. Cohen is attempting to show his constituents that he understands the severity and repercussions these institutions have had on today’s society.This resolution is the House of Representatives’ formal agreement with many Americans that have a guilty conscience for what their ancestors did to Black Americans. In my opinion, this resolution is not necessary; no one is rejecting the idea that slavery happened, no one in today’s Congress has been saying that Jim Crow Laws created this false utopia of “separate but equal.”
Some White Americans feel that Black Americans want them to “feel guilty” for what occurred, so a quick, “I’m sorry your ancestors, grandparents, and parents went through such horrible experiences in their own country” isn’t necessary. How can someone apologize for something they didn’t personally do?
I don’t want you to feel sorry for me or my parents. I don’t want you to simply hear my frustrations and hope everything is better now. Discussing race is so taboo in this country, we just want to get it over with, apologize for reasons unknown to us, and get out of the uncomfortable conversation. Listening, internalizing, and actually understanding what was wrong with this country will provide many with the mindset to change the way they think about other races and therefore change the way we still treat each other.
Comparatively, Congress’ simple apology for the past isn’t going to be what continues to move this country forward, either. Learning from the country’s past and the mistakes we made is what is necessary to continue to fight against future instances of human rights violations, a commitment Cohen included. If we label human rights violations as something this country can only do to Black Americans, quickly apologize for it, and then forget about it, we’ll easily overlook the fact that we can violate the rights of Muslims, Middle Easterners, and gay Americans.
The resolution blatantly states, “African-Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow -- long after both systems were formally abolished -- through enormous damage and loss, both tangible and intangible, including the loss of human dignity and liberty, the frustration of careers and professional lives, and the long-term loss of income and opportunity.” My Bad!!