The United States Senate officially apologized Thursday for the enslavement and segregation of millions of African-Americans and “the fundamental injustice, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws.”  The body passed the resolution sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa by way of voice vote.  The resolution now goes to the House of Representatives. 

One small point of contention.  The Congressional Black Caucus may not endorse the resolution due to the inclusion of a sentence that reads  ”nothing in this resolution authorizes or supports any claim against the United States; or serves as a settlement of any claim against the United States.”   A few members of the CBC have voiced concerns regarding the inclusion of  such “restrictive” additional language.

One  member of the CBC noted that the 1988 government apology issued to Japanese-Americans held in internment camps during World War II did not have a disclaimer nor did it include any language preventing them from receiving compensation.  Other CBC members said the following:

“Putting in a disclaimer takes away from the meaning of an apology,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. “A number of us are prepared to vote against it in its present form. There are several members of the Progressive Caucus who feel the same way.”

“The language is unacceptable,” said Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., “I’m a reparations man – how else do you repair the damage?”