US Senate approves resolution to apologise to African-Americans for slavery

The United States (U.S.) Senate approved a fiercely worded resolution today that attempts to formally apologize for the \"fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery\" of African-Americans, according to a report on the Wall Street Journal\'s website.



The unanimous voice vote came five months after Barack Obama became the first black U.S. president, and ahead of the June 19 celebration of the emancipation of African-Americans at the end of the Civil War in 1865.



Approval by the House of Representatives, which could come as early as next week, would make it the first time the entire Congress has formally apologized on behalf of the American people for one of the most grievous wrongs in U.S. history.



The bill, which does not require Obama\'s signature, states that Congress \"acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and Jim Crow laws\" that enshrined racial segregation at the state and local level in the nation well into the 1960s.



And Congress \"apologizes to African-Americans on behalf of the people of the United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow laws.\"



It also recommits lawmakers \"to the principle that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and calls on all people of the United States to work toward eliminating racial prejudices, injustices, and discrimination from our society.\"



Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat from Iowa, and Sen. Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican, led the debate as both major U.S. political parties banished their deep differences on topics such as the economy to come together on the measure.



\"We pledge to move beyond this shameful period and we officially acknowledge and apologize for the institution of slavery in this country what many refer to as \'the original sin of America,\" Brownback said.



\"Let us make no mistake: This resolution will not fix lingering injustices. While we are proud of this resolution and believe it is long overdue, the real work lies ahead,\" said Harkin.



In a step that has angered some African-American lawmakers, the measure takes pains not to fuel the push for the U.S. government to pay reparations to the descendants of African slaves.