North Carolina Senate Passes Slavery Apology

In a still chamber, North Carolina senators Thursday approved a resolution apologizing for slavery as one after another discussed how a conflict central to the American experience reverberates in their lives.
The descendants of slave owners and the descendants of slaves wrestled with the inheritance of what has been called America's original sin. North Carolina still confronts problems that have their roots in slavery and legal segregation, they said.

"My middle name is the last name of the owners of my ancestors," said Sen. Charlie Smith Dannelly, a Charlotte Democrat.

"My grandfather was a slave owner," said Sen. Bill Purcell, a Laurinburg Democrat, "I've always had trouble dealing with that."

Purcell said he was bothered growing up seeing tenant farmers laboring in a system in which they could not make money, watching department store customers pay more than they should have, and seeing black students get hand-me-down books from white children.

Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue called the discussion "the most powerful words I've ever heard in here."

After a debate of about an hour, the resolution passed unanimously. It goes to the House for its consideration. more...

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