[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 356 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 356

   Acknowledging the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and 
    inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American 
                   colonies, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 19, 2000

 Mr. Hall of Ohio (for himself, Mr. Bonior, Ms. Carson, Mrs. Clayton, 
 Mr. Coburn, Mr. Costello, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Jackson-Lee of 
  Texas, Mr. Jefferson, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Ms. 
McKinney, Mr. McNulty, Mr. Meeks of New York, Mr. Rush, Mr. Traficant, 
Mr. Engel, Ms. Lee, and Ms. Kaptur) submitted the following concurrent 
      resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Acknowledging the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and 
    inhumanity of slavery in the United States and the 13 American 
                   colonies, and for other purposes.

Whereas approximately 4,000,000 Africans and their descendants were enslaved in 
        the United States and the 13 American colonies in the period 1619 
        through 1865;
Whereas slavery was a grave injustice that caused and continues to cause 
        African-Americans to suffer enormous damages and losses, both material 
        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;
Whereas slavery in the United States denied African-Americans the fruits of 
        their own labor and was an immoral and inhumane deprivation of life, 
        liberty, the pursuit of happiness, citizenship rights, and cultural 
        heritage;
Whereas, although the achievements of African-Americans in overcoming the evils 
        of slavery stand as a source of tremendous inspiration, the successes of 
        slaves and their descendants do not overwrite the failure of the Nation 
        to grant all Americans their birthright of equality and the civil rights 
        that safeguard freedom;
Whereas an apology is an important and necessary step in the process of racial 
        reconciliation, because a sincere apology accompanied by an attempt at 
        real restitution is an important healing interaction;
Whereas a genuine apology may restore damaged relationships, whether they are 
        between 2 people or between groups of people;
Whereas African-American art, history, and culture reflects experiences of 
        slavery and freedom, and continued struggles for full recognition of 
        citizenship and treatment with human dignity, and there is inadequate 
        presentation, preservation, and recognition of the contributions of 
        African-Americans within American society;
Whereas there is a great need for building institutions and monuments to promote 
        cultural understanding of African-American heritage and further enhance 
        racial harmony; and
Whereas it is proper and timely for the Congress to recognize June 19, 1865, the 
        historic day when the last group of slaves were informed of their 
        freedom, to acknowledge the historic significance of the abolition of 
        slavery, to express deep regret to African-Americans, and to support 
        reconciliation efforts: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the Congress--
                    (A) acknowledges the fundamental injustice, 
                cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the 
                United States and the 13 American colonies;
                    (B) apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of 
                the people of the United States, for the wrongs 
                committed against their ancestors who suffered as 
                slaves;
                    (C) expresses condemnation of and repudiates the 
                gross and wanton excesses perpetrated against African-
                Americans while the institution of slavery existed;
                    (D) recognizes the Nation's need to redress these 
                events;
                    (E) commends efforts of reconciliation initiated by 
                organizations and individuals concerned about civil 
                rights and civil liberties and calls for a national 
                initiative of reconciliation among the races; and
                    (F) expresses commitment to rectify misdeeds of 
                slavery done in the past and to discourage the 
                occurrence of human rights violations in the future; 
                and
            (2) it is the sense of the Congress that--
                    (A) a commission should be established--
                            (i) to examine the institution of slavery, 
                        subsequent racial and economic discrimination 
                        against African-Americans as a matter of law 
                        and as a matter of fact, and the impact of 
                        slavery and such discrimination on living 
                        African-Americans;
                            (ii) to issue a standardized, historical 
                        curriculum for use in public schools on the 
                        institution of slavery in the United States; 
                        and
                            (iii) to explore the possibility of 
                        establishing a scholarship and research fund; 
                        and
                    (B) a National museum and memorial should be 
                established regarding slavery as it relates to the 
                history of the United States, and other significant 
                African-American history.
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