Senate Companion Bill to HR40
Published March 11, 2010
Dear Senator Burris,
On June 18, 2009, the United Staes Sentate apologized to Afro-descendants (African Americans who have an ancestor who experienced the period of enslavement and Jim Crow segregation) for the enslavement of our ancesotors and for Jim Crow segregation. The author of the apology. Senator Tom Harkin, D- Iowa, stated following the Apology, that "the real work lies ahead." We have yet to see any work on behalf of the Legislature nearly 8 months after the Apology .
I, like NCOBRA, the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, believe that "real work" can greatly begin with the passage of House Resolution 40, known as the Reparations Study Bill introduced by John Conyers, D. Mich. This is needed, along with the passage of a companion Senate Bill to that legislation in order to move America forward in regards to race and racial relations.
When asked about your thoughts of the Senate Apology For Slavery and Jim Crow Segregation, your remarks were “words mean a great deal.” If left to stand alone, without any tangilbe action behind them, the words to the Apology will be shown to be meaningless. Already, among our Coalition members and 1000's in the Chicago area, the Senate Apology has been deemed "Insuffcient Redress" for the 246 years of enslavement, 100 years of brutal racial apartheid and segregation, and ongoing injustices.
I, like NCOBRA, believe that the work of a Inquiry Commission would provide real answers for all of America that accurately details the causation of the racial disparities and will delineate what policy would look like to correct the massive inequalities and injustices in which African descendants inherited from the racial crimes against their ancestors. All of America could then get on one track as our President champions. .
NCOBRA has identified five broad areas - of which much scholarship supports - in which the racial abuse of the past has a present day debilitating effect on the African descendants of those who were so abused. The five areas of which these lingering effects are most visible and limiting are: economic development, education, peoplehood/familyhood, health, and criminal justice. Scholarship also points out that unless massive and targeted policy and action is focused on these areas, the problems will become exponentially worse in Black community. Small incremental change like that of the past will have no effect.
For that reason, and on the heels of the US Senate Apology for Enslavement and Jim Crow Segregation, NCOBRA has initiated a Renewed Push to Enact HR 40. This Push also has the task of identifying a progressive Senator to author a Senate resolution in unison with the House Resolution calling for the creation of the Commission to begin this great work.
I, like NCOBRA, earnestly and with much anticipation hope that you will be that Senator. We also believe that the Senate companiion bill will have added historic and symbolic significance if it originated out of the state of Illinois. And even more significance in being authored and introduce by a fellow Afro-desendant. Your bill is certain to help move America forward on all fronts.
Respectfully,
On June 18, 2009, the United Staes Sentate apologized to Afro-descendants (African Americans who have an ancestor who experienced the period of enslavement and Jim Crow segregation) for the enslavement of our ancesotors and for Jim Crow segregation. The author of the apology. Senator Tom Harkin, D- Iowa, stated following the Apology, that "the real work lies ahead." We have yet to see any work on behalf of the Legislature nearly 8 months after the Apology .
I, like NCOBRA, the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, believe that "real work" can greatly begin with the passage of House Resolution 40, known as the Reparations Study Bill introduced by John Conyers, D. Mich. This is needed, along with the passage of a companion Senate Bill to that legislation in order to move America forward in regards to race and racial relations.
When asked about your thoughts of the Senate Apology For Slavery and Jim Crow Segregation, your remarks were “words mean a great deal.” If left to stand alone, without any tangilbe action behind them, the words to the Apology will be shown to be meaningless. Already, among our Coalition members and 1000's in the Chicago area, the Senate Apology has been deemed "Insuffcient Redress" for the 246 years of enslavement, 100 years of brutal racial apartheid and segregation, and ongoing injustices.
I, like NCOBRA, believe that the work of a Inquiry Commission would provide real answers for all of America that accurately details the causation of the racial disparities and will delineate what policy would look like to correct the massive inequalities and injustices in which African descendants inherited from the racial crimes against their ancestors. All of America could then get on one track as our President champions. .
NCOBRA has identified five broad areas - of which much scholarship supports - in which the racial abuse of the past has a present day debilitating effect on the African descendants of those who were so abused. The five areas of which these lingering effects are most visible and limiting are: economic development, education, peoplehood/familyhood, health, and criminal justice. Scholarship also points out that unless massive and targeted policy and action is focused on these areas, the problems will become exponentially worse in Black community. Small incremental change like that of the past will have no effect.
For that reason, and on the heels of the US Senate Apology for Enslavement and Jim Crow Segregation, NCOBRA has initiated a Renewed Push to Enact HR 40. This Push also has the task of identifying a progressive Senator to author a Senate resolution in unison with the House Resolution calling for the creation of the Commission to begin this great work.
I, like NCOBRA, earnestly and with much anticipation hope that you will be that Senator. We also believe that the Senate companiion bill will have added historic and symbolic significance if it originated out of the state of Illinois. And even more significance in being authored and introduce by a fellow Afro-desendant. Your bill is certain to help move America forward on all fronts.
Respectfully,
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