Washington briefing: A century and a half later, Congress apologizes for slavery

by Emil Sanamyan

Published: Friday June 26, 2009

Sen. Tom Harkin (D.-Iowa).  .

Washington - Both houses of Congress have now passed resolutions apologizing for past treatment of African-Americans, including slavery and segregation. The Senate voted unanimously to do so on June 18; the House of Representatives had done so in July 2008, U.S. media reported.

The move was praised by President Barack Obama, but received largely low-key and mixed reactions around the United States. Critics particularly pointed to a clause that suggested that the apology should not be used in support of claims of restitution.

The Senate resolution was co-sponsored by Senators Tom Harkin (D.-Iowa) and Sam Brownback (R.-Kan.) The efforts in the House are led by Rep. Steve Cohen (D.-Tenn.), who has expressed vociferous opposition to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

According to Mother Jones magazine, in 1988 the United States apologized and offered compensation to Japanese-Americans for internments during World War II. In 2005, the House, and in 2008, the Senate voted to apologize to Native Americans "for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect" inflicted against them by the United States.

Last April, President Obama indicated that the United States might apologize for some of its past policies in Latin America, where Washington had been accused of organizing coups and assassinations.