With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Proposed Virginia slavery apology is now broader

The General Assembly would express "profound regret" for Virginia's role in slavery and for "historic wrongs visited upon native peoples" in the latest version of a proposed apology that cleared a House panel yesterday...

The committee accepted a substitute...which calls for the assembly to express "its profound regret for the commonwealth's role in sanctioning the immoral institution of human slavery, in the historic wrongs visited upon native peoples, and in all other forms of discrimination and injustice that have been rooted in racial and cultural bias and misunderstanding."

[Del. A. Donald] McEachin's measure originally called for the General Assembly "to atone for the involuntary servitude of Africans and call for reconciliation among all Virginians."

Yesterday he offered to change the word "atone," which he said could carry the implication of reparations - "and that's not what his resolution is meant to do" - to "contrition," which means "a sincere remorse for wrongdoing."
Read entire article at Richmond Times-Dispatch