Slavery apology proposed
Published April 27, 2007
A bill that would formally apologize for Missouri's role in slavery passed through committee on April 19, and it will now advance to the House floor.
Rep. Talibdin El-Amin, D-St. Louis, the sponsor of the bill, said nothing new drove him to back the bill, just hopes of entering into reparations. But he said reparations are not part of this resolution.
Twelve of the 19 clauses state information about Missouri's involvement in slavery, dating back to 1720 when, according to the bill, "Philippe Francois Renault introduced Negro slavery to Missouri when he brought 500 Negroes with him from Santa Domingo to work the lead mines in the Des Peres River section of what is now St. Louis and Jefferson counties."
Several of the other clauses state the importance of apologizing and how other countries, including European and African nations, have already done so.
El-Amin said this resolution is more strongly worded than other states' because it asks for a more direct apology rather than a statement of regret.
"An apology for over 145 years of brutal injustices that occurred in Missouri cannot erase the past," the bill states. "But acknowledgment of the wrongs can speed racial healing and reconciliation and help African Americans and white citizens confront their collective pasts together."
The bill passed through two committees - the House Urban Issues Committee and the House Rules Committee - before it could be taken to the House floor.
El-Amin said he has gotten bi-partisan support for the bill, but the resolution has not been easy to get through.
"(Racism) is still very much alive," he said.
He said the General Assembly does not operate independently from society, and society still has racist attitudes.
"Logic would say that those attitudes may very well still exist in (the General Assembly), and those feeling may very well come to play," El-Amin said.
The bill made it out of the Rules Committee on April 18, but it hasn't been placed on the calendar yet, he said.
El-Amin said he should find out in about a week when the bill would be introduced to the floor.