George,

On the last day of the General Assembly session, Virginia lawmakers passed a resolution sponsored in the House by Delegate A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, and Senator Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond that expressed "profound regret" for the state's role in slavery.

According to the resolution, "the most abject apology for past wrongs cannot right them, yet the spirit of true repentance on behalf of a government, and, through it, a people, can promote reconciliation and healing and avert the repetition of past wrongs and the disregard of manifested injustices."

The resolution passed in the house 96-0 and cleared the Senate on a unanimous voice vote.

Among those voting for the measure was Delegate Frank F. Hargrove, R-Hanover, who infuriated black people in January by saying that black citizens should "get over" slavery.

In a letter that appeared in The Daily Progress on Jan. 23 ("Slavery Apology would be Just"), I denounced Hargrove for making such indefensible statement.

Now, I take this opportunity to thank Delegate Hargrove for having had a change of heart and voting for the resolution that offered an apology for slavery.

It was in Jamestown where the first Africans were enslaved in 1619.

Richmond became the point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub.

On the eve of the Civil War more than 4 million of the 4.5 million people of African descent in America were slaves.

Of the five states with more than 400 thousand slaves, Virginia had the highest number, 490,865 (30.7% of her pouplation, followed by Georgia, 462.198, (43.7%) percent of her population,); Mississsippi, 436.632 (55.2) percent); Alabama 435.080 (45.1 percent), and South Carolina, 402,198 (57.2 percent). (The information comes from a special edition of Time magazine, July 4, 2005)

Just as Virginia was the first state to have slaves, she became the first state to acknowledge with "Profoumd reget" the involuntary servitude of Africans and the exploitaion of Native Americans in this resolution.

There should, however, have been a separate resolution addressing the role Virginia had in the barbaric treatment of Native Americans that focused specifically on the massacring of Native Americans and confiscation of their land.

On behalf of Americans of African descent in Virginia and other Virginians who favor the action taken by the General Assembly, I express thanks to these lawmakers for passing this bill offering an aplogy for the role Virginia had in initiating and promoting slavery.

This action has inspired me, a native of Alabama, to contact members of the Alabama Legislature and urge them to follow the example of Virginia and issue an apology for the role that state had in slavery, the state that had the fourth-highest number of slaves.

My letters have been sent to Seth Hammett, speaker of the House of represenatives and Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr., president of the Senate in Alabama.

Again, to Virginia lawawmakers, on behalf of Americans of African descent, we with thanks accept your apology for slavery.

Uriah J. Fields (electronic mail, March 5, 2007)