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Friday, April 06, 2007
North Carolina moves forward
From the New York Times:
The State Senate expressed regret for the practice of slavery and apologized for official actions that promoted legalized discrimination over four centuries. “When you dehumanize a human being, it’s one of the worst things that you can do,” Senator Larry Shaw, Democrat of Fayetteville, said before senators unanimously approved a symbolic resolution. The resolution acknowledged the state’s “profound contrition for the official acts that sanctioned and perpetuated the denial of basic human rights and dignity to fellow humans.” The resolution now goes to the House. Maryland lawmakers approved an apology for slavery last week, and lawmakers in Georgia and Missouri are considering similar legislation. In February, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously to express its regret for that state’s role in slavery.
Interestingly enough, I'm reading a novel called Sands of Pride by William Trotter, which is set during the Civil War in Wilmington, NC where I went to undergrad. I wanted to read it because it's partly based on real events such as battles at Fort Fisher and events at actual homes in the downtown area, so I figured it would be neat to be able to recognize actual places. It was strange to read accounts of slave auctions that occurred right were I used to bar hop.
More details at the Raleigh N&O.
Posted by Will at April 6, 2007 09:05 AM in In the News