Number
010131
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. GORDON
Title
Substitute resolution supporting pending federal legislation relating to slavery reparations and directing the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division to lobby for its passage.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee's support for H.R. 40, pending federal legislation relating to the formation of a commission to study slave reparation proposals for African-Americans and to make recommendations to the United States Congress on appropriate measures. The resolution also directs the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division to lobby the City's Congressional delegation for passage of this proposed legislation.
Body
Whereas, More than 30 million Black African-Americans are direct descendants of slaves brought to the shores of America almost 400 years ago; and
Whereas, It is estimated that 80 to 100 million Africans died from starvation, disease, execution or other brutal treatment while being transported to the Americas and other regions of the globe during centuries of a horrible Black holocaust; and
Whereas, Slave labor was the primary source for clearing, cultivating, planting and harvesting the land, processing the products, and all other duties necessary for the economic enrichment of slave owners and their families; and
Whereas, The use of free slave labor is a major cause for the rise of the United States as the strongest, wealthiest nation in the world; and
Whereas, Free slave labor, championed by the United States government, allowed slave owners and their families to accumulate great wealth that was bequeathed to their descendants, while the slaves and their families had only the products of poverty to consign to their descendants; and
Whereas, Slaves were considered only three-fifths of a person in the United States Constitution and were deprived of pursuing any of the basic rights and privileges afforded other citizens; and
Whereas, Emancipation was followed by 100 years of legal segregation supported by laws that continued to deny freed slaves and their families the same basic rights as former slave holders; and
Whereas, The cruel and inhuman treatment and the denial of opportunity to Black people caused extreme, lasting social and psychological damage to the descendants of slaves that have continued to impede their social, economic and educational progress; and
Whereas, The brutality and trauma suffered by prisoners in World War II described as the Helsinki Syndrome was a microcosm of the post-slavery trauma suffered by descendants of American slaves, passed on by culture, language and emotions; and
Whereas, The inhumanity of slavery followed by 100 years of government- sponsored discrimination against Black people also resulted in extreme psychological damage to the descendants of slave owners that continues to fuel racial division and hostilities; and
Whereas, There will never be racial healing until America decides to face the criminal debauchery that people enriched themselves by committing wrongful acts against African-American slaves; and
Whereas, The original Freedmen's Bureau Act of 1865 did propose assigning 40 acres of abandoned and confiscated land to freed slaves as reparation, but under President Andrew Johnson the terms of the act that became law in July 1866 actually restored the land to former white owners, many of them formerly accused of treason to the union; and
Whereas, Several bills were introduced in the United States Congress, including S.1978, introduced February 6, 1896, and S.1176, introduced December 11, 1899 to compensate freed slaves, but all failed to pass out of committee; and
Whereas, The freed slaves and their descendants have never received any compensation for the generation of free labor, oppression and degradation, while making great contributions to economic strength, safety and security of this
nation ;and
Whereas, The United States government has actively supported other initiatives to indemnify people wronged or forced to labor for others without compensation, including Native Americans, Japanese, Jews and others; and
Whereas, Since the Trans-Atlantic slave trade has been deemed a crime against humanity, reparations need to be made for African nations from all Western countries that participated in the capture, transporting, merchandising and holding of African slaves; and
Whereas, The City recognizes and supports the emergence of other initiatives advocating reparations for descendants of American slaves, including Race Riot Commissions in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Rosewood, Florida; resolutions passed in cities in the states of California, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Louisiana; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin have a long history of dedication to the anti-slavery cause, and many of their residents provided assistance to runaway slaves to escape and freedom via the underground railway system; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City expresses its support for H.R. 40, federal legislation currently pending in the 107th Congress relating to the formation of a commission to study slavery reparation proposals for African-Americans and to make recommendations to the United States Congress on appropriate measures; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to lobby the City's United States Congressional delegation for passage for this proposed legislation; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the copies of this resolution be forwarded to the City's United States Congressional delegation.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB01201-2
TWM/cac
5/10/2001