this is interesting. im not sure how i feel about the apology actually being necessary though.

Glad to see a brother doing his thang. There is no need for an apology for slavery at this point. No american today is responsible for it so it doesnt mean anything.

Thank you for the apology! I’m glad that America has realized that the reason Black America is in the current crisis state that it is today is because of what has happened in the past. Whites have always been priveleged when its come to housing, careers, education and basic human rights! We are still playing catch up when it comes to home equity, wealth and many other things our families were denied! Thank you. Trust me when I say…we are not tagging behind by a long shot for nothing.

an apology? i dont get that…..nice effort but I dont really see the point…I was just in the barber shop the other day talking about this issue and instead of teaching our kids to love one another and embrace everyone no matter what their skin color is..i hear guys in the barber shop saying they are stilll teaching their kids about racism because they need to know. So I dont get how this apology is supposed to help anyone when african americans clearly dont want to forget. I didnt grow up in those times and although I feel our kids should know history I don’t see why we need to teach them about racism….and put the seeds in their heart to already hate another race.

Do you all agree with the guy in the barber shop?

Over the years…the dominanting society (white ppl) have gaining all the priveleges and wealth of their parents who, because of institutionalized racism against blacks and others who didn’t fill the “Whiteness” standard. To say an apology isn’t necessary is like a slap in the face to our past, present and our future. America’s wealth was built off the backs of our ancestors, and we (blacks) will continue to have to play catch up with whites because of racism and oppression. An Apology is a start! The reason many blacks can’t even get a decent home loan is because of redlining…it affect it then and it continues today. Research people….research. smdh.

http://www.myspace.com/demhazels

Get at me!

I really liked Tim Russert. Tom Brokaw is doing a decent job, but he isn’t as hard hitting with the questions as Tim. He seems to back down easily.

They can keep the apology I feel like it’s happening because Obama is running

Congrats to Mr. Whitaker

Yeah, those that needed the apology are not here and we are not taking advantage of what they went through to deserve one. Yes slavery was bad but most of us alive are not slaves now. The world is crazy…not sure how to feel about this!

I dont totally agree with the men in the barbershop, tho I believe our kids should still be educated on our african american history as well as to love one another..To say that African Americans should FORGET about our past is a disturbing suggestion..Its hard to forget about something that is still alive today…Racism is still alive, trust me I live in Florida there are still white people that think blacks are here only to serve them hand and foot.

I agree 100% with #7 Dame…I thought that when I first read about it. If it were’nt for Obama runing for president, they wouldn’t have even thought of giving African Americans an apology. They could have kept the d@mn apology, and give us reparations!

@Hollywood

“Your past helps define your future” If it wasn’t for what our ancestors did in the past, we would not have the opportunities that we have today. It is important to educate our children on the past to help them understand why certain things happen today.

Neither did I grow up in “that” generation, but I embrace it and educate my 8yr son on it as well.

Congratulations to Mr. Whitaker!

Apology long overdue, but hey, its accepted on behalf of the legacy of our ancestors. And this should the first step for better legistlation under the new administration (OBAMAAAA) that helps not just blacks but other minorities also.

(all i got to say is about time. if it was just one of yall i’d understand but there 4 of you) yay for the black man! r.i.p. tim russert-i loved him!! reperations will never happen or do anything of value.

I am from Little Rock, AR and have observed the construction of the museum for quite some time now. I used to pass by it everyday on my way to work. Its nice to see the Rock representin’! Thanks for the post Angel!!

congrats mark!

Personally I dont care about an apology. I’m just glad that the U.S. has finally acknowledge slavery existed. For so long it’s been “swept under the rug”. Hopefully reparations will follow. It doesn’t have to be monetary. Free college education would be my preference. That would assist us with becoming self-sufficient. *imo*

Not familiar with Mark on a visual level but I do read Newsweek. Congrats to him Meet the Press was a really good broadcast with Tim, so hopefully it will continue on in his wake. I like Tom Brokaw on the nightly news and I think he does just to Meet the Press.

Arkansas did is doing a complete 180-Finally!

All these damn apologies *smh* to me it seems like we go through this every few years, all of these governmental apologies highly publicized but really its all politics most of Washington could give a Rats Ass!

I think an apology is a moot point right about now. Especially when racism still exists, it’s just not as open as it was back then. If the “House” wants to apologize, they should do so, by building new schools, and homes in “Black” neighborhoods. Give the gift of better grants for in/after school programs for our black children, Offer these teachers as much, if not more than what’s offered to a judge. By the time a black child sees the Judge who’s paid (180K or more) it’s too late in most cases. If that child was taught by a Teacher who’s paid that amount it’ll go a lot further. These are just a few of the ways that the survivors of slaves can be apologized too. I don’t think we should have anything HANDED to us, just because of what our forefathers/mothers have suffered. I do believe we should be given every decent chance that our majority counter-parts have and get.

# 7 & 10

People who don’t understand the apology…don’t understand “the lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African-Americans under slavery and Jim Crow”. Other countries gave apologies for the mistreatment of Africans years ago. If you don’t understand how significant this apology is…then you don’t understand American history.

And, what Obama running for President have to do with America admitting its past wrong? This is long over due and very necessary now…at a time when black men are rotting in prisons for smoking crack. Hopefully, the apology will help set them free and remind employers that they will need jobs when the get out.

Black in America is a double standard.

I accept the apology. However, blacks need to apologize to eachother for the slave mentality that is placed within our own communities. We can’t trust eachother, but will trust another race before our own. If a man/woman is of a lighter shade, we hate. We are enemies of ourselves. I appluad the apology from Congress, but lets be real and apologize to eachother and build up eachother without seperating eachother through financial classifications along with other nonsense reasons.

Love is power and unconditional, so until everyone come to that notion, we all are still in slavery.

I want my 40 acres and a mule that my ancestors did not get. Forget the damn apology! Whatever!!!

#15.

@ 1nubianqueen

No one is asking for a handout! But, the apology is the first step in admitting the wrong and making sure it stops. Maybe the next step is that we get “every decent chance that our majority counter-parts have and get”. Those are your words! So, you must know that things are not equal! Better education and health care are exclusive in the rich and famous neighborhoods!

You should note that only two Republicans signed the resolution. Only two! If the resolution does nothing else, it should move us to get out and vote.

@ hollywood here i come…

I am going to break down your comment and try to answer any question you might have

You said…“an apology? I don’t get that…..nice effort but I don’t really see the point…”

The point of the apology is to let the world know that America at least recognizes that she has committed the worst crime against humanity and at most, is trying to atone for these sins. And by you not seeing the point is clearly a sign of the “lingering effects” of indentured servitude that they spoke about in the apology. You have been so battered and discombobulated you feel like you don’t deserve an apology. You are like an abused person who has lost all self worth, believing he or she deserves to be abused.

Then you said….”I was just in the barber shop the other day talking about this issue and instead of teaching our kids to love one another and embrace everyone no matter what their skin color is..”

While this is true, we should teach our kids to love each other, but also you have to teach your kids about the realities of life. You have to give your children life skills; we have to teach our children that racism does exist. We have to teach them that in this society as a person of color they are going to have to work twice as hard to be considered half as good as their white counterparts. You CANNOT mislead your children, because when he or she grows up and is subjected to these biases they are going to be confused, they won’t know how to handle it.

Then you continued to say…”I didn’t grow up in those times and although I feel our kids should know history I don’t see why we need to teach them about racism….and put the seeds in their heart to already hate another race.”

So because you didn’t’ grow up in “those times” mean that we should forget about it? Let me break the news to you, you are still in those times. Like anything else, racism has evolved. Instead of lynching, they send their police force to shoot us down (Sean Bell and Timothy Stansbury); instead of the cotton fields, they imprison us; instead of segregating the schools and the communities, they give us the worst schools with the worst education and the most deplorable living conditions. See you have to pull the wool from over your eyes and see these things. And the most disheartening statement you’ve made is, “I don’t see why we need to teach them about racism” Why? Racism is a learned behavior and anything learned can be unlearned. The only way to address it with the hopes of eliminating it is through discussion and the first step in the healing process is through admitting that a heinous act has been done to a party, hence the apology. We cannot use your approach of blind optimism. You cannot “forget it away or act as if it doesn’t exist hoping it will go away in its own. Or pray one day that white people will wake up and start accepting you as a human being. If it were up to you Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Marcus Garvey’s efforts would have been worthless. That is a slap in the face of all our ancestors who have come before us and have died so that our people wouldn’t have to live in this wretched state of racial bias for another 500 years.

“Our scientific influence have far exceeded our spiritual influence, we have guided missiles and misguided men”

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It’s nice that they felt they had to apologize. Only 2 Republicans sponsored it and 120 reps. Racism will never go away. It is here forever people who are racist or have differet views of any race have been taught that. I watched on CNN where in Alamaba White and Black people celebrate Mardi Gras seperately and niether race has a problem with it. One older white man said ” I guess there are some nice colored people.” Okay so in 2008 we are still viewed as colored. Not people to some white folks. We built the country through free labor and recieved nothing in return but the hatred of black men, people think all black women have attitudes and 1 million of our men are in Prison. What will this apology do beside create go PR for the elected officials who can say I sponosored this bill please vote for me. IMO we have along way to go. We have a long way to go with other races and we most have along way to go with ourselves. We can’t even get along sharing opinions about different entertainers with out being called a hater or being cussed out. So where do we start? Or is it to late?

Mark Whitaker - congrats to you!!! This is a major accomplishment. Meet the press reaches so many key opinion leaders in this country and other countries, every Sunday morning (when these KOL’s should be in church). Nevertheless, congrats!

Arkansas - you guys need to get it together. Petition. Rally. Put some fire under someone’s butt… why let them make a license plate that says “you’s a nigga”??? Well, they did it, and now I said “make your voice heard”.

Apology… is it accepted? Not really sure. But it says lots that it was done… But why now?

I said before the apology is nice and everything but actions speak louder than words. I think its unlikely that they would ever consider giving reparations but more than that, they need to put money into the inner city schools….Education!! I, too, like a previous poster wondered if it had something to do with Obama running. Face it, they’ve been knowing for years that slavery was wrong and caused lasting consequences to the black race but NOW they feel the need to apologize for it? the people they need to apologize to are long gone now. But I guess its cool because Obama has been talking about having an open dialogue on race and this is a step towards that.
As for teaching my kids about racism, hell yes, when and if I have kids, I will be teaching them about that! I dont’ think racism will ever completely go away but my kids will know about it. Don’t get me wrong, I won’t be teaching them that we are going to have a race war and they need to get the guns ready, but I will let them know that some white people are tricky and they need to alwasy have 3 eyes open when dealing with them.

A lot of you are stubborn and aren’t really seeing this “apology” in the proper light. Remove the hate from your heart and you’ll see what is really happening. I for one, am glad they’re opening up about it, discussing it and examining the effects it still has on african americans today.

You’re close-minded and typical, if you don’t think this a small step in the right direction.

Hopefully an apology will be the first step towards reparations…congrats to the brotha doing big things at NBC maybe we’ll see more faces of color on Meet the Press every Sunday morning….and I might have to take a quick trip to the Arkansas to visit that musuem…certainly well over due.

Apology accepted..So where is my 40 acre’s and a mule??????????????????

P.s. Since we’re in a new era..I’ll take a Mercedes GL instead of the smeely A$$ MULE.. I’m just saying

Why its 2008 and we are still celebrating first…damn! I am happy for him.

@ 7 soooo i agree with u, its def being done b/c of Obama!

Okay, I’m sorry to say this, I really really am. And I’m gonna get attacked for it, but why is it that the fair skin blacks are the ones who are more accepted? If Obama was a dark-skinned negro that looked like me, I dont think white America would be clinging to him the way they do. The fact that he’s mixed make’s him more safe. And just about all of CNN’s black anchors are light skinned. Whats up with that?

Even in CNN’s BLACK IN AMERICA, Soledad Obrien’s documentary only showed the light skinned black people as the successful ones, with the exception of the dark-skinned egotistical ostentatious female screenwriter. And dark skinned blacks were the ones shown going to jail or struggling. I dont think that was quite fair to the black spectrum

Hell, even the dark skinned models, the one in that Italia vogue magazine were mainly light skinned black women with the exception of Naomi Campbell.

Sometimes #32 I wonder that too. Skin color will forever be an issue the most brown kids I sxeen on tv was The Cosby Show or The Bernie Mack Show. I like to see more people like me.. Not trying to down the my lightskin sisters but on tv you always see a lightskin female with long or curly hair. We do come in more than one shade of black.

You know what, I always thought i would be happy when that day came but now I dont quit know how I feel about the appology! Im glad that they have finally came around, but Im indifferent on this one, I guess im cool with it, and before I forget J.Dakar whats up homie thanks for all the help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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NO, there’s no need for an apology now, because there’s not a single living American in 2008 who either was a slave or owned one. The black people who rip their own communities to shreds from the inside out with drug sales, consumerism, colorism, rape, theft, and focus on short-term monetary gain over education are the ones who should offer the apology. They, unfortunately, are still here.

Read #32 and #33’s comments. People are STILL hung up on “shades of black,” as if part of the advantage of calling ourselves black in the first place was that it is a color that doesn’t have any shades… Get OVER it. The sooner, the better. Black is not truly a “race” any more than white is. The divisions you cling to are in no way different than the practices you claim to detest.

::sigh:: I just realized that we probably aren’t ready for a black President.