Connecticut Apologizes for Slavery

The State of Connecticut has joined seven other states in formally apologizing for slavery.  By a 36-to-0 roll call vote, the state Senate unambiguously gave final approval on June 3rd to a similar House resolution.

I congratulate the general assembly of Connecticut for finally recognizing its obligations to history. 

While the general assembly managed to pass this apology resolution, it failed to pass a budget before it recessed.  Maybe in another century or so a future legislature will apologize for having its priorities so out of whack. 

Profound Contrition

The resolution expresses "profound contrition" for the racist policies of the state.  The text of resolution is here. 

In its deliberations, state legislators learned that Connmecticut had the largest number of slaves in New England at the time of the American Revolution.  It's legislature rejected emancipation bills in 1777, 1778, and 1780.

The state's constitution, drafted in 1818, specifically denied the right of blacks to vote. 

Like other apologies for slavery, the Connecticut resolution has language disallowing any reparations or payments to anyone who might have been harmed by events during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Most recently New Jersey and Virginia have passed similar apology resolutions.

Many citizens of Connecticut applauded the resolution. 

Why Should We Apologize?

Others felt that the current generation has no business apologizing for something that ended long before they were born.  

To that all I can offer are some statistics. 

Of Connecticut's population of 3.5 million people, about 10 percent are black, according to U.S. Census estimates for 2007.

Among full-time workers in the state, black men earn 70 percent of what white men earn.   

Stated another way, white men earn 30% more than black men.  This difference in earnings represents the benefits of slavery that white men continue to benefit from.   

Though we may not have asked for the benefit, nor even are aware of it, those of us who are white men must acknowledge that the legacy of slavery continues.  As long as white people benefit from the unearned privilege of the legacy of slavery, it is disingenuous for white people to claim that they have no standing to express profound contrition.  When we give up that privilege, then we will truly apologize. 

The simple fact is that in every state, the legacy of slavery has left a cultural burden on both the exploited and the exploiters that still permeates society.