“Black Lives Matter”

Resolution Apologizing For Slavery and Segregation
US House of Representatives

[Authored by The Hon. US Congressman, Steve Cohen, Democrat-Kentucky]

 

General Commentary
As it relates to Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Apology Resolution – Edited

See Senate Apology Resolution For Lynchings

See The Democratic Party MP Leadership and Justification

See Democratic Party Justification For MP

The full text of the slavery measure, House Resolution 194, is as follows:

 

1. Whereas millions of Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United

     States and the 13 American colonies from 1619 through 1865;

• There is between 1619 and 1865 whereby these Americans were an institution in which they received deep, negative, psychological (mental, intellectual, emotional) impressions that became embedded in their souls for generations yet to come.

• There is between 1619 and 1865 whereby these Americans were an institution in which they received deep, negative, psychological (mental, intellectual, emotional) impressions that became embedded in their souls for generations yet to come

• Though chattel slavery ended in 1865, the freedmen and their descendant children never received that national therapy that would gradually rectify any deep seeded-rooted generational illness resulting from the unprecedented ordeal.

•  Granted, the efforts to rectify the harm in those years obviously fell short, as modern sciences of the soul and genetics is only are relatively new discoveries in understanding human nature.

•  Inherently, or by GOD’s inspiration of knowing the future generations, the architects granted them power to defend themselves should they awaken one day and realize that their existence in the United States is seriously threatened, by enacted the 14th Amendment which codified into the Constitution its progenitor and “Rosetta Stone”, the 1866 Civil Rights Act.

• Immigrants, legal or undocumented, do not have the American experience of the Subjects in this Resolution, nor can theirs be equated with it in any manner whatsoever.

• To do so would be immoral and highly disrespectful to the 720, 000 American boys who gave their lives and millions more wounded (mentally and physically for the sake their sakes.

• The Atlantic Slave Trade was initiated by Portugal and Spain followed by Britian and Europe.

2. Whereas slavery in America resembled no other form of involuntary servitude known in history, as Africans were captured and sold at auction like inanimate objects or animals;

 

·        With due respect in recognition of their struggles, the heritage of willing immigrants is obviously not that of these Americans.

•    How does CIR help to alleviate this psychological and deep seeded generational damage?

3. Whereas Africans forced into slavery were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized, and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and heritage;

 

·        Willing immigrants, particularly those of the Hispanic/Latino Caucasian ethnicity have brought their names and cultural not even attempting to blend with that of traditional America, and of course never suffering the outrages of the Subjects of this legislation.

•  How does CIR ensure that the Subjects won’t ethno-racially cleansed from society?

4. Whereas enslaved families were torn apart after having been sold separately from one another;

 

·        Willing immigrants who have willing subjected they children-families to the hardship of being separated, the Subjects of this legislation did not choose to have theirs torn apart in Africa nor what bit of one that they pieced together in America.

•       Of course, these peoples continue to suffer from that calamity.

•      How does CIR rectify this trama?

5. Whereas the system of slavery and the visceral racism against persons of African

    descent upon which it depended became entrenched in the Nation’s social fabric;

•   Willing illegal immigrants have only recently since 1965 become a part of the American fabric, whereas the unwilling chattel slaves have been intricately woven into the fabric in such a way, that if it is removed and attempted to be replaced by another “thread”, this “nation of immigrants under GOD” with its Republican form of government, will indeed “perish from the earth” as warned by Lincoln.

•  How does CIR prevent the unraveling of the America fabric is it is on the path of that will replace the Subjects as the “nation of immigrants” number one subject forever?

6. Whereas slavery was not officially abolished until the passage of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1865 after the end of the Civil War, which was fought over the slavery issue;

 

·        The greatest war in US history was not fought of the struggles of willing illegal immigrants, but rather chattel slave and the descendant children.  To assume and usurp others, regardless of their suffering into the place of these Americans of this Resolution would be a desecration to those young boys who gave their lives that this may live.

 

7.      Whereas after emancipation from 246 years of slavery, African-Americans soon saw the fleeting political, social, and economic gains they made during Reconstruction eviscerated by virulent racism, lynchings, disenfranchisement, Black Codes, and racial segregation laws that imposed a rigid system of officially sanctioned racial segregation in virtually all areas of life;

•  Willing immigrants of any kind, has never had this experience.  In fact, these atrocities were committed by “White citizens” of immigration heritage.  CIR now poses a potential threat of a worse magnitude.

•  Ironically, certain Americans of immigrant heritage are now seeking to replace the Subjects of this legislation with foreign nationals, not rejecting the governments long standing, but unfilled covenant of the Declaration of Independence, etc, with GOD to rectify these generational atrocities committed against HIM.

8. Whereas the system of de jure racial segregation known as `Jim Crow,’ which arose in certain parts of the Nation following the Civil War to create separate and unequal societies for whites and African-Americans, was a direct result of the racism against persons of African descentengendered by slavery ;

•   Immigrants willing to subject themselves and children’s children to the punishments of nation’s laws for violating them is not to be equated with nor should time and resources be taken from those who have suffered these injustices for them.

•   It is to be noted, that during the Jim Crow era, Hispanic/Latinos participated as Whites in public places and schools, etc.  They were the target of wholesale racially legislated discrimination in former confederate and Mason-Dixon Line states, as well general racism from Americans of all immigrant heritages.

• CIR appears to be just another immigrant form of bashing the chattel slave descendants and Jim Crow survivors out of Americana.

•   Such action is total mockery and disdain of the Rev.-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all Americans regardless of race or color who have fought and even given their lives to rectify these crimes against humanity.

9.      Whereas the system of Jim Crow laws officially existed into the 1960’s–a century after the official end of slavery in America–until Congress took action to end it, but the vestiges of Jim Crow continue to this day;

•   If the vestiges of Jim Crow indeed continue to this day, why is are our Congressional legislators, the President and Supreme Court feverishly trying to give amnesty as though it were reparations to foreign nationals in violation of our laws, and not working hard and smartly to rectify them?

•    How does CIR stop the vestiges of Jim Crowism?

10.  Whereas African-Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow–long after both systems were formally abolished—through enormous damage andloss, 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;

•   If indeed the consequences continue, why are the leaders of the “nation of immigrants” seeking to eliminate these Americans before even considering the consequences upon the country for generations to come.

•       How does CIR restore these items destroyed by chattel slavery and Jim Crow.

11.  Whereas the story of the enslavement and de jure segregation of African-Americans and the dehumanizing atrocities committed against them should not be purged from or minimized in the telling of American history;

•        As Los Angeles is a prime example, that since 1965, particularly 1986 (Reagan Amnesty), thus far CIR has essentially turned into a stealthy and systematic form of ethno-racial cleansing, which is one step away from genocide.

•  How does CIR help to prevent this “purging and minimizing” from happening when it is advocating the overrun of the Subjects by masses of primarily of White peoples?

12.  Whereas on July 8, 2003, during a trip to Goree Island, Senegal, a former slave port, President George W. Bush acknowledged slavery’s continuing legacy in American life and the need to confront that legacy when he stated that slavery `was . . .one of the greatest crimes of history . . .

     

            …The racial bigotry fed by slavery did not end with slavery or with segregation.

           And many of the issues that still trouble America have roots in the bitter

           experience of other times.  But however long the journey, our destiny is set: liberty

          and justice for all.’;

• Republican President acknowledges that these US citizens continue to suffer from the past deeds committed by immigrant heritage Americans, that the nation destiny is set in that of theirs.

 “…for many of our white brothers…have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.” MLK 1963

 

13.  Whereas President Bill Clinton also acknowledged the deep-seated problems caused by the continuing legacy of racism against African-Americans that began with slavery when he initiated a national dialogue about race;

• Democratic President also acknowledges that present ills of these Americans is rooted in the past, therefore, according to both Commanders In Chiefs, the United States has no business in seeking amnesties for foreign nationals who willfully crossed the laws of a sovereign nation with its own peoples to look after.

14.  Whereas a genuine apology is an important and necessary first step in the process of racial reconciliation;

• If this is the “first step” what then is the “next”?  Wouldn’t Moratorium be the logical answer as it is immediate and will stop a definite “bleed”  If not Moratorium, then what is “next”? CIR?  How does that make for the kind of reconciliation called for in this Resolution.

15. Whereas an apology for centuries of brutal dehumanization and injustices cannot erase thepast, but confession of the wrongs committed can speed racial healing and reconciliation andhelp Americans confront the ghosts of their past;

• If apology is not enough, why is the US federal government seeking to destroy the subjects of this Resolution by casting its attention on CIR
• Among those “ghosts” are those of the young boys who gave their lives in the US Civil War for the sake of a “nation of immigrants” that believed in the true meaning of the Declaration of Independence, as fought over freeing human beings from tyranny.
• CIR would horribly disappoint them as it will undo the work they did to end chattel slavery and its generational aftermath.  As Lincoln warned, “that these dead shall have not have died in vain”.

16. Whereas the legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia has recently taken the lead in adopting a resolution officially expressing appropriate remorse for slavery and other State legislatures are considering similar resolutions; and

 

• Apparently, these Several States recognize that the business with chattel slavery and its aftermath is not concluded, therefore, why start anew with a foreign problem not cause by the subjects of this Resolution.

17. Whereas it is important for this country, which legally recognized slavery through its Constitution and its laws, to make a formal apology for slavery and for its successor, Jim Crow, so that it can move forward and seek reconciliation, justice, and harmony for all of its citizens: Now, therefore, be it,

• This process is impeded and abridged by CIR

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow

• Why acknowledge, if the nation is not going to rectify it, and but rather instead heap even more pain and humiliation upon the Subjects of this Resolution.

(2) apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for  the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow; and Why apologize if it is not going to be fixed?

 

(3) expresses its commitment to rectify the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African-Americans under slavery and Jim Crow and to stop the occurrence of human rights violations in the future.

• How can the lingering consequences be rectified and the stopping the re-occurrence of the suffering of the Subjects, and further human rights violation, if CIR is the priority of the US government?

• It would be a tragedy of unmeasured proportions should CIR be implemented without  Moratorium and it is later discovered that the custom indeed has become the fourth and final “blow” in a series of * three consecutive “blows” to the descendants of chattel slavery.

•   * “consecutive blows” – 40 years of slavery (1620 – 1640); 225 years of chattel slavery (1640 – 1865); 99 years of combined Black Codes – Jim Crowism (1865-1964); 48 years of failed, government social policies and programs intended to rectify the other two “blows”; and now CIR, the final insulting “blow”.

•   According the birth and identity legal and non-binding sacred documents of the United States, should we loose this special population of Americans to the devastation of CIR, then this “nation of immigrants and slaves” with a Republican form of government will technically “perish from the earth”.

The Senate was sure to rush a disclaimer that while it Apologizes, such must not be construed as a willingness to make Reparations yet, it is quick to grant amnesties to law breakers and their children.

(2) DISCLAIMER- Nothing in this resolution— (A) authorizes or supports any claim against the United States;  or (B) serves as a settlement of any claim against the United States.

Apology Resolution – Edited
See Senate Apology Resolution For Lynchings