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Resolution apologizes for state’s role in slavery

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BY JoANNE YOUNG / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 - 07:53:30 pm CDT

Nebraska state senators may get an opportunity to join a handful of other states that have expressed regrets or apologized for their role in slavery.

Nebraska would be the first state west of the Mississippi River to do so. It would join Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina and Alabama. Other states — including Missouri and Florida — have broached the subject with their state governments.

Omaha Sen. Dwite Pedersen is sponsoring the Nebraska resolution introduced Thursday. He said his interest is letting people know the history of slavery in Nebraska and expressing regret for it.

Story Photo

“I don’t know anybody who doesn’t regret slavery,” he said. “My hope is that people in Nebraska get the history that slavery was here.”

Pedersen said people can’t apologize for something they didn’t do. But they can regret that it happened.

The resolution comes two days after Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s speech on race in Philadelphia. Some have said it opened up the conversation on race like it hasn’t been since the Civil Rights era.

The resolution says the “Legislature expresses its profound regret for the state’s role in slavery, especially during its territorial period prior to statehood, and apologizes for wrongs inflicted by slavery and its after effects in Nebraska and in the United States.”

It also expresses its deepest sympathies and solemn regrets to those who were enslaved and their descendants, who were deprived of life, human dignity and constitutional protections.

The resolution seeks to encourage all Nebraskans to teach their children about the history of slavery and its effects, especially concerning modern-day slavery, so such tragedies will be neither forgotten nor repeated.

And it says the resolution shall not be used in or as the basis for any litigation.

Pedersen said a constituent in Omaha asked him to introduce the resolution after researching the role Nebraska played in slavery. The man brought reams of research to Pedersen’s office.

“I found it very interesting,” he said.

The research showed that when the Kansas-Nebraska Act opened lands west of the Missouri River to white settlement in 1854, it allowed settlers to decide for themselves whether slavery would be allowed.

Nebraska was at the center of turmoil over the slavery issue, with Iowa being a free state and Missouri a slave state. The Missouri Compromise had intended that Kansas and Nebraska would have no slaves.

Sara Crook, history and political science professor at Peru State College, said the Kansas-Nebraska Act opened the wound of slavery, bringing controversy and heated debate, and greasing the slippery slide into civil war. People coming to Nebraska, and those stopping along the Missouri River, brought slaves with them.

The first territorial Legislature passed a resolution prohibiting “negroes and mulattoes” from settling here.

In 1858, a legislator introduced a bill to abolish slavery in the territory of Nebraska. Three on the committee that dealt with it favored the bill and two regretted its introduction, fearing it was introduced for political ambition.

It’s unclear how many slaves or slave owners lived in Nebraska, but any reports cite low numbers compared with southern states. In 1859, William Taylor introduced a bill to prohibit slavery in the territory, saying, “There is no distinction in principle between holding one human being in bondage and 10,000.”

In 1860, Crook said, 12 slaves were reported in the Nebraska City region, and the Nebraska News, published there, was pro-slavery. J. Sterling Morton, she said, wrote flaming pro-slavery editorials.

The Nebraska Territory did not ban slavery until 1861, because the appointed territorial governor at the time, Samuel Black, the son of a Presbyterian minister, twice vetoed the bill in 1860 and 1861.

Crook said that as a historian, she believes it is important for Nebraskans to understand the state’s role in slavery, including its participation in the underground railroad, a network of safe houses used in the 1800s to get slaves to free states.

Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers said the fact that Pedersen introduced the resolution may cause it to have more impact than if he had.

The resolution will be referred to a committee for a public hearing, said Speaker Mike Flood. If it comes out of the committee, there’s a good chance it will be debated by the Legislature by the end of the session, he said.

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.


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Good First Step, Take it Further... wrote on March 20, 2008 10:06 pm:
" How about introducing a resolution for apologizing for Nebraska's role in the plight of the Native Americans of this land back in the Pioneer Days!!! "
whatever wrote on March 20, 2008 10:09 pm:
" Then we can introduce a resolution regretting our role in the destruction of Iraq. How 'bout a resolution on regret for the terror bombing of Dresden. Since Nebraska was settled primarily by Germans and has the highest number of German American citizens per capita in the United States I would think a resolution denoucing German aggression in the 19th and 20th century is in order. In fact German tribes played a significant role in the fall of the Roman Empire, I would think an apology to all Italians is in order. And while we are at it why don't condemn the historical atrocities committed by the British against the Irish, Welsh and Scots. I find this entire resolution offensive. As a descendent of Americans in the forefront in the battle against slavery on one side of my family and as a descendent of immigrants who came to this country after the Civil War the idea that somehow I am to be held accountable by a "statement of regret" is just silly. No one should be held accountable for "sins of the father" and that's exactly what this resolution of regret implies. We can move forward as a nation or continue to wallow in the past. I certainly prefer the former. This current Unicameral is a shameful group of cowards, idiots and opportunists. "
rac wrote on March 21, 2008 12:25 am:
" What? How stupid is this? Which leftist, socialist came up with this bright idea? Can't we leave alone stuff that happened a 100 years ago? Seriously, someone, get a life... "
Warren wrote on March 21, 2008 4:58 am:
" Why are we wasting tax dollars on something that happened before any of us were born? Do we really need a resolution for this? I am tired of the energy and money that is wasted on this. No wonder why we have huge fiscal shortfalls. Now we suffer from poverty due to overargued issues. Please put in a resolution for poverty and quit feeling sorry for something that happened 2 centuries ago. "
K wrote on March 21, 2008 5:13 am:
" This has got to be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. I'm going to contact my Senator and urge him NOT to support this bill. "
Dave wrote on March 21, 2008 7:47 am:
" It looks like there was enough guilt for everyone to apologize, not just Nebraska.


"DEBT DISCHARGE
Selling someone into slavery could be a way of discharging a debt.

FEEDING THE ORACLE
In Bonny, the largest slave market in the delta of the river Niger many slaves were sold by order of the oracle, Chukwu. The slaves were then sold to merchants, but the oracle was said to have eaten them.

TRIBUTE
In the area of Senegal, in the 17th century, slaves were given to the king as part of a village's tribute to him, along with brandy, tobacco and cloth.

KIDNAP
A large number of people were quite simply kidnapped while going about their everyday tasks. Igbos were particularly wary of being kidnapped and always fortified their houses if they left their villages; but some like Olaudah Equiano were caught unawares.

Elsewhere in West Africa Savanna horsemen would sweep down from the north to launch annual slave raids on agricultural people.

Occasionally Europeans would kidnap people and turn them into slaves, although by doing this they ran the risk of annoying the chain of African middlemen which extended from the interior to the coast.

"It was customary for parties of sailors and coast blacks to lie in wait near the streams and little villages, and seize the stragglers by twos and threes when they were fishing or cultivating their patches of corn."
Richard Drake, recalling life under the command of Captain Fraley of Bristol, whom he served in 1805." "
Tim wrote on March 21, 2008 8:45 am:
" More taxpayer funded waste of time! A little history lesson maybe? What year was the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln and how many years LATER did Nebraska even become a state?! Thank you Mr. Petersen for wasting all out time. How about we start living in the present and worrying about the injustices done to the living. Any former slaves or slave owners still around? "
Gerard Harbison wrote on March 21, 2008 9:04 am:
" " “Legislature expresses its profound regret for the state’s role in slavery, especially during its territorial period prior to statehood, and apologizes for wrongs inflicted by slavery and its after effects in Nebraska and in the United States.”

So the state is going to apologize for what it did before existed. This can't be serious!

"
why wrote on March 21, 2008 9:15 am:
" when is all this blame going to stop. My family had nothing to do with slavery. I was taught it was wrong in school, and it is still coming up. Quit wasting our money on stupid ideas that don't solve any problems! "
Saline Co. Guy wrote on March 21, 2008 10:53 am:
" Nebraska and its mostly German & Czech blood lines had as much to do with slavery as the Confederacy had in writing the 14th Amendment.

Get a life. Get a clue. Don't waste public time and resources with your white, liberal guilt. If you're that committed, join Rev. Wright's church. "
mike wrote on March 21, 2008 11:42 am:
" So we are apologizing for something that happend 130+ years ago, not in Nebraska but we don't have time to look at what is happening in Whiteclay? I guess our great grandkids can apologize for us in 130 years from now. WHAT A JOKE OF A LEGISTLATURE WE HAVE!! "
Nina wrote on March 21, 2008 12:10 pm:
" All humankind should apologize for slavery. That said, I hope that along with Nebraska's apologies go statements touting our extensive use of the "Underground Railroad" to help the slaves get to freedom. John Brown's Cave with its hidden location and inside ledges, and Wilderness House, with its secret cupboard hideaway (both in Nebraska City) attest to this effort, which was made at the risk of life for Nebraskans in the mid-1800s. I believe Nebraska's good outweighed the bad in this situation, and its unique story is a way to get Nebraska POSITIVE publicity in the national news, for a change. "
Publius wrote on March 21, 2008 12:30 pm:
" As Nebraska was not a state at the time of the Civil War and would have joined the Union as a free state, it is a fascinating discourse in metaphysics. I would also like to introduce a bill to apologize for the State of Nebraska's role in the Crusades and the Inquisition. On behalf of myself and my ancestors who had yet to come to Nebraska, my sincere apologies.

Can we move on now? "
Josh wrote on March 21, 2008 12:41 pm:
" What a waste of time. Quit worrying about what people long dead did in the past and worry about the state's future. "
What a Waste wrote on March 21, 2008 12:55 pm:
" Nebraska wasn't even a state until March 1, 1867, the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect January 1, 1863. And the Last 40,00 slaves were freed in Kentucky with the final radification tothe 13th amendment as of Decmeber of 1865. Thats a year and a half before the "State of Nebraska" even existed. Yes slavery was/is bad but this is just plain STUPID!! "
CS wrote on March 21, 2008 1:38 pm:
" Who cares? This is one of the most empty gestures ever. The current legislature, nor the current population of NE had anything to do with slavery in the 1800s. This is like indoctrinating German children today with collective guilt about something they had no hand in whatsoever. And these people want a raise? "
A Nebraskan wrote on March 21, 2008 2:31 pm:
" This is rediculous. Quit wasting your time and my tax dollars on this! "
Blame the right people wrote on March 21, 2008 3:18 pm:
" This idea is great, but let's place blame where blame is due: the state should mandate that all of those Nebraskans that currently or have owned slaves in the past make a public apology. I mean, that's only fair to the rest of us that didn't have anything to do with something that happened so long ago.

This is the kind of idiotic bill that Ernie would be fighting tooth-and-nail if it weren't about the long dead ancestors of modern-day African Americans. "
Scott wrote on March 21, 2008 3:45 pm:
" What a waste of tax payers money. How about we apologize to Japan over the atomic bomb or Native Americans for stealing the land. It's in the past, let's not forget it but take the lessons learned and build a stronger future. "
tim wrote on March 21, 2008 3:47 pm:
" let's just apologize to anyone that anytime was ever, might ever or ever might be offend and be done with it. the world has been a place of wrong doing since the beginning of time. figure it out people and stop expecting a silver spoon on every corner. cry me a river build me a bridge and for goodness sakes GET OVER IT. "
Mary wrote on March 21, 2008 4:06 pm:
" My grandparents all came here from Russia. I did not, nor did anyone in my family, ever own slaves. "
you're missing the point wrote on March 21, 2008 4:14 pm:
" Although slavery is long gone in this country the effects are still evident. Blacks were denied the same rights and opportunities as whites. Among other things, they were not able get their "40 acres and a mule" like other families that are still in the midwest were to pass on to future generations. Should we apologize? I think it may open up a whole new can of worms regarding responsibility and RESTITUTION that we will not be able to afford. I'll tell you one thing, if I was black, I would be trying to find decendants of the family that owned my ancestors and sue the heck out of them for lost wages, abuse, whatever. "
pr wrote on March 21, 2008 4:35 pm:
" How will the apology be officially forgiven? "
Ej wrote on March 21, 2008 5:04 pm:
" I stopped at the mission today to drop off some items my girl outgrew. It saddened me to see there was a line all the way down the side of the building. These people were waiting for food to be distributed today. My point? All this guy has to do is apologize for slavery- yeah right "
No Way wrote on March 21, 2008 5:06 pm:
" I demand a resolution from the Italian government, apologizing for enslaving my Germanic ancestors. When I get that, then we can talk about this resolution. "
Gerard Harbison wrote on March 21, 2008 5:38 pm:
" The census of 1860 lists 10 slaves being held in the Nebraska Territory (which, remember, contained most of the Dakota, Montana, and large chunks of Whyoming and Colarado as well). So there were very few African slaves in the territory from 1854, when it was formed, until 1861, when the territorial legislature abolished slavery.

However, slavery among Native American tribes was endemic. The Pawnee, who inhabited much of modern-day Nebraska, were so often taken into slavery by other tribes that (according to Lauber (1913)), the word 'Pawnee' actually became synonymous with 'slave'. So while the state legislature has little reason to apologize for slavery, perhaps the local native tribes might consider an apology? "
me wrote on March 21, 2008 6:05 pm:
" this is dumb. there are so many more important issues in this state affecting people today. what a waste. "
Procedural Geek wrote on March 21, 2008 6:27 pm:
" Hm, sounds a lot of angry people are talking nonsense....

First off, it's a proposed 'resolution' not a bill. Secondly the Senator who introduced it was Dwite Pedersen, a term-limited guy who's been around a while in the legislature with very little to do except count down the days of retirement from the angry Nebraskans he hears almost on a daily basis. I don't blame him for introducing this 'resolution' becausee he's an old work horse ready to pasture out in Elkhorn (a.k.a West Omaha).

Funny to note, Sen. Pedersen is a registered Republican in Douglas County. How can you label Republicans with "white, liberal guilt" because doesn't that go against former past President's 'Golden Rule.'? I would check Sen. Pedersen's record before you go accusing him something that he's actually really not.... "
disappointed wrote on March 21, 2008 7:58 pm:
" It is very disappointing to me to see our elected officals wasting our hard earned tax payer dollars on crap like this. I thought we moved on from this after the civil war. I guess to some people we should still be apologizing for this in the year 2525. "
Eddie wrote on March 21, 2008 9:02 pm:
" And how much of our tax dollars went into this? Sure, slavery was a bad thing, but appologizing to someones Great-great grand children doesn't really hold much water. No wonder property taxes are so high in this state.
I suppose next up is a bill to raise the salary of our fine representatives..... "
Dr. J wrote on March 21, 2008 9:37 pm:
" Why are we apologizing for this now when there are more slaves right now than ever before in the history of the world. America doesn't have much to be proud of when it comes to human rights. We have killed, tortured, and sacrificed people from many ethnicities, in the name of freedom of us Americans, including the very people who lived here first. Don't get me started, this country has messed up so many times its not even funny. If you want to start apologizing for past wrongs the end may be nowhere in sight. "
Jocko wrote on March 21, 2008 9:56 pm:
" Some of the people posting here believe Obama's pastor is racist but their anti-apology stand is not racist...go figure. "
JPB wrote on March 21, 2008 10:04 pm:
" Japanese internees: $25,000 from the US Gov't.
Indians: no taxes on profits from casinos on Indian reservations.
Negroes?
No one living today is accountable or responsible for some of the same racist views that existed during slavery that are still alive today...no need to apologize...right? "
Now for the rest of the story wrote on March 21, 2008 10:49 pm:
" And this is the same Legislature that keeps asking for a raise. It's obvious now why they aren't getting one anytime real soon. "
Just wondering wrote on March 21, 2008 10:57 pm:
" Since the Legislature is handing out apologies, can I expect an apology for the Legislature's and state official's disregard for my vote in 2006 on Referendum 422 that was totally ignored? Or am I going to have to wait a few hundred years? Just wondering. "
Jason wrote on March 22, 2008 7:42 am:
" I am a descendant of Irish and Germans that immigrated and homesteaded in what became Iowa and Oklahoma, Both families served in the Union Army, the Irish joining at the docks in New York because there were no jobs for irish. After mustering out almost 20yrs later in the U.S. Calvary as a sadler on one side and Private on the other, Pioneering and breaking grounds and even respecting the local N.A. Tribes that lived near them, allowing them access to land that was once theirs, I can say quit pointing fingers!!! There was wayyy too many people involved for Only Whites to be the blame, and be more specific on which ones you want to blame? "
Mark wrote on March 22, 2008 7:44 am:
" Those of you who are whining about this being a waste of tax dollars, are you also supporters of the Iraq War which has cost us over $500,000,000 (will likely exceed $1 trillion) and has wrecked our econonomy? I'll bet not. This resolution is not a waste of tax dollars. Thank you Senator Pedersen and Professor Crook for your work on this. Slavery is an awful legacy and anything we can do to show our regret is positive. Nearly every caucasian in this country has reaped the spoils of slavery, let's reach out to the African American community in a positive way by passing this resolution. This is a rare chance for this state to be one of the leaders than one of the last followers. "
I support wrote on March 22, 2008 9:20 am:
" I support this measure. Initially I was against, unitil I thought about it. When the Legislature is tied up with stupid topics such as this, they are not creating more usless laws and are not increasing my taxes. I would like to see all term taken up by this! "
Rev. Wright wrote on March 22, 2008 12:12 pm:
" How ironic. A black man is about to become president (perhaps we have recovered from slavery after all!) and he and his spiritual adviser are about to enslave the rich, white people that run this country. What goes around, comes around! "
Judy wrote on March 22, 2008 1:52 pm:
" I don;t know about slavery, but the legacy of slaver still lived on in Nebraska when I was a child. My parents, second generation Germans, and their townsfolk are directly responsible for running descendants of slavery out of town for the very same reason that their parents were enslaved. I think an apology for THAT is in order. People are seeming to forget that segregation, slavery's little sister, fester in Lincoln and Omaha, and many other places across the state. This forgetfulness is perhaps why a bill like this is important. "
monty wrote on March 22, 2008 2:14 pm:
" this is like wrecking you favorite ride intentionally, you fix it but man it never looks the same..or is forgiven. "
Joe wrote on March 22, 2008 2:20 pm:
" It's always interesting when this issue comes up, some descendants of immigrants want to elevate their ancestors contributions to America while diminishing their role in the discrimination that came from slavery. A number of Caucasian peoples from Asia, Europe, and Africa, if not directly complicit in slavery, were as responsible in preserving the remnants of slavery which included institutional discrimination that in some parts exists to this day. Apologize and be done with it. "
Rob wrote on March 22, 2008 3:32 pm:
" Nebraska became a state in 1867. Slavery was outlawed in 1861. So, it is proposed that the state of Nebraska apologize for actions before it became a state, i.e., before it had any control. Does that make sense? How can a state apologize for someone else's actions? And who are the people the state is apologizing for? At least there could be some names. Then, maybe their descendants could stand up and bite the bullet here. That might make some sense. "
Kevin wrote on March 22, 2008 4:09 pm:
" I live in the Senator's district. His bill is not only a waste of time but racist. My ancestors never owned slaves. I don't need to apologize for slavery, I didn't do anything wrong. "
Come ON wrote on March 22, 2008 4:11 pm:
" So if we support this, does it mean that Affirmative Action can finally cease to exist? Beings as all of us who were NOT involved in slavery "regret" it happening will make everything okay... "
To Rob wrote on March 22, 2008 9:49 pm:
" Although Nebraska was not a slave state, Nebraska was among a number of non-slave states with anti-miscegenation laws which outlawed mixed race marriages (passed in 1855; repealed in 1963). Nebraska did not have slavery but was guilty of propagating slavery based laws in a free state. "
John B wrote on March 22, 2008 11:12 pm:
" Nebraska had a very few number of slaves if any. The Nebraska City region includes the northeastern corner of Missouri, a slave state. If there was a few it was before Nebraska became a state in 1867. Kansas was in the "center" of the turmoil. To say Nebraska was is to change history. Those eastern states had slaves and should appologize. "
Rusty Shackleford wrote on March 23, 2008 1:19 am:
" The "State" exists as an entity only in the abstract definition, it is incapable of any emotional expression be that love, hate, regret or anything else.. Due to those definitive restrictions the officials of the 'State' are not empowered to express any emotion on behalf of the citizens residing within it's borders. The freedom to express emotion is an individual right, not a collective right delegated to the government. I have never owned a slave. I also was not involved in getting my neighbors daughter pregnant and hope the 'State' feels no need to apologize on my behalf for that either.
"
JB wrote on March 23, 2008 8:18 am:
" The reason anti-slavery bills were not passed in the early 1860s was the fact that most believed at the time Nebraska didn't have slavery and why waste the time on a bill which wasn't needed. Sounds same as today. The census of 1855 showed 13 and in 1860 there were 10 shown. In the same 1860 there were 81 free-slaves. Most of the slaves shown in the census may have been owned by someone in southeast Nebraska, but it is unknown if their slaves resided here or a few miles south in Missouri, a slave state. Nebraska City's few slaves if any were greatly out number by the many who escaped through the city to freedom. "
JB wrote on March 23, 2008 8:25 am:
" Nebraska was NOT at the center of the turmoil over slavery. History says it was Kansas. Most people in Nebraska in the 1860's believed the state didn't have slavery (so no need to outlaw it) and here we are more the hundred years later saying the state did. Who should know better? "
Read The Article! wrote on March 23, 2008 6:35 pm:
" The resolution calls for Nebraska to apologize for IT'S ROLE IN SLAVERY...NOT for being a SLAVE STATE! "
Hjalmer wrote on March 24, 2008 6:23 am:
" Given the number and tenor of the comments, it's pretty clear this state has not come to terms with the issue of race. Legislatures across the land pass resolutions (not bills) with no more effect than this one all the time with little notice or comment, but add the issue of race and anger seems to explode. Where's all that indignant anger coming from? It seems the argument is that this resolution deals with and moot issue- Nebraska didn't have slaves. Okay, what if the State would apologize for its role in racial discrimination against people of color. I'm pretty sure there's some of that still going on. "
WCG wrote on March 24, 2008 10:20 am:
" Very interesting. My compliments to Sen. Pedersen! I hadn't realized there had been any slaves in Nebraska, though I guess I should have realized otherwise. And it's abundantly clear from the comments here (even if didn't live in the state and know for myself) that racism is alive and well in Nebraska. We have definitely not put race behind us. I must say that Barack Obama's speech was the most intelligent thing I've ever heard on the subject (which is probably why it won't get nearly as much attention as attack ads). If you haven't heard it or read it - in full, not just excerpts - I urge you to look it up online. Whites tend to see the glass as half full, while blacks tend to see it as half empty. They're both right, in a way. Yes, we have made HUGE progress in this country, but we are far, FAR from finished. Looking at it from both sides is one of the smartest things we could do,... which probably means, of course, that most people won't bother. "

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