New Jersey considers slavery apology

This week New Jersey lawmakers begin considering becoming the first northern U.S. state to offer an expression of regret for slavery. A similar effort in Georgia has stalled. Four Southern states have so far offered varying apologies for slavery. Georgia’s effort has stalled because of objections raised by a black lawmaker who argued that such an apology was insulting and woefully inadequate for the suffering caused by slavery.

Top senator calls for slavery apology

Georgia Senate Speaker Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) says he’s joining with black lawmakers to call for an official apology for slavery in Georgia.

"It’s not that we personally or our parents participated in slavery, but the state of Georgia did," Johnson says. He says it's appropriate for Georgia to express regret for those actions as a step to reconciliation.

Johnson met with leaders of the Legislative Black Caucus and Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, who is one of the highest-ranking African Americans in state government. He says they're still discussing the details but some sort of apology could be tacked onto a measure establishing April as “Confederate History and Heritage Month” in Georgia.

According to a spokesman, Johnson has no problem with that legislation because it also honors Georgia’s history.
Meanwhile, other state leaders, including House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) have resisted the call for an apology, saying they had nothing to do with slavery.