'Regret' Over Md. Role in Slavery

Slavery officially ended in Maryland in 1864 with the adoption of a new state Constitution.

Some wonder whether legislation endorsed by elected officials could do more harm than good.

"It can be potentially damaging in that it concentrates attention on historical discrimination and leaves out the more modern discrimination," said David A. Bositis, a senior researcher at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. "If the state legislature wants to apologize for something, how about the quality of education that students in Baltimore City are getting?"

Drafters of the resolution intentionally left out the word "apology." The word was not used in Virginia's resolution, either.

Sen. Henry L. Marsh III (D-Richmond), the first black mayor of Richmond and a sponsor of the resolution, said there was spirited discussion about word choice.

At one point, the word "atonement" was in a draft copy of the legislation. It was removed because, he said, one of the definitions for atonement is reparations, and the sponsors and GOP leaders did not want a debate about reparations.

"This resolution was not about reparations. It was about an acknowledgment," Marsh said. "To express profound regret satisfied the effort that we were trying to do. It was more meaningful to have a unanimous vote in a Republican-controlled legislature than to have a split vote."

Del. Michael L. Vaughn (D-Prince George's), who sponsored the measure in the House, said "profound regret" and apology are synonymous to him. "It's an apology in my book," he said.

Some civil rights leaders are hoping that the resolutions will lay the framework for a discussion about reparations.

"To pass a resolution is a start," said Charles Steele Jr., president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. "We're going for the bottom line: eradicating racism and dealing with the wrongdoings of the past."

But Sen. Verna L. Jones (D-Baltimore City) said the resolution is about stepping back to remember something that many don't want to remember. She said it's a way to move forward.

"The first step for healing to take place is for there to be an acknowledgment," said Jones, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.

Staff researcher Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report.