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Illinois Transatlantic Slave Trade Commission Moves Forward Despite Delays By Tasha Lynette Clopton

The Illinois Transatlantic Slave Trade Commission is still pushing forward in its research on the effects of slavery on African-Americans. The Commission, co-sponsored by State Senator Mattie Senator Hunter (D-3rd) and State Representative Eddie Washington (D-60th), is examining the political, educational and economic effects of the institution of slavery. Representative Washington has been working closely with Dr. Conrad Worill, chairman of the Jacob Carruthers' Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern Illinois University, to form this Commission. He explains that the commission came about after he read some writings of Minister Louis Farrakhan concerning the need to document the effects of slavery on the behavior of African Americans today. What is the Commission? Composed of 25 appointed members, including scholars, business people, professors, and Governor Blagojevich, this examination was to be completed by December of 2006. Senator Hunter says that she will take action to extend the bill for an additional twelve months. She became a co-sponsor after Representative Washingtons bill needed a Senate sponsor. The Jewish people talk about how they were affected and how tragic the Holocaust was, but nobody really gets too deep into slavery. Its like, Well we are going to talk about it, but maybe we shouldnt talk about it. Senator Hunter noted that this state legislation is similar to the national legislation that U.S. Representative John Conyers of Michigan, (D 14th), has been trying to get passed for years. Thus far, he has not had the votes needed to make that happen. We needed empirical data, Senator Hunter notes. Youve got to have some research so that you can have the data to support your findings. Possible Commission Findings and Suggested Remedies Dr. Wayne J. Tukes, of Columbia College Chicago, says that he expects the Commission to find that the enslavement process and its aftermath was and is at the center of the commerce, governance and the social order of this country, and not on the margins. Tukes, who is an academic advisor and holds a doctorate in Counseling Psychology, says that the remedies include internal reparations. These would take the Tasha Lynette Clopton February 26, 2007

form of an assessment inventory to give African Americans a clear picture of its community assets and liabilities. External reparations, he explains, would consist of an apology, creation of heritage trust funds, a break from taxes, cancellation of African debt, and finally, an urban marshal plan. This is a reference to the Marshall Plan created for allied European nations after World War II. Senator Hunter noted that this Commission was formed to learn from past mistakes to move forward. Its going to take a long time to deal with the injustices, Senator Hunter iterated, noting that the reasons for slavery were both political and economic. Representative Washington believes that the Commission will that Black people have been the victims of indoctrination. Noting that no other group had to endure 400 years of physical and mental abuse, he muses about the biblical adage that says as a man thinketh, so is he. We have been trained in certain ways that are really not in our best interest. Calling the crimes against persons of African descent crimes against humanity, Rep. Washington reminds, America did not change willingly. America was forced. We saw every Black organization that stood to lift us up, [and] reverse some of the effects of the indoctrination and fallout of slavery decimated. Desiring closure, he cautiously offered, Closure will never come if the steps of atonement are not offered by the society that fostered, [and] created this society of color classification. National Implications According to Senator Hunter, researchers from all over the country have been calling her and Dr. Conrad Worrill since the Commission was formed. Upon hearing of the formation of Illinois Commission, Senator Hunter says that legislators at the National Black Caucus of State Legislators were excited about taking the Illinois Commissions model back to their home states. Giving credit to U.S. Representative Conyers House Bill 40, and calling this Commission a model for the country, State Representative Washington noted that Illinois would be the first state to deeply explore the effects of the transatlantic slave trade. As the state prepares for the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, Virginias General Assembly, in a unanimous vote, expressed profound regret for the states role in slavery and the exploitation of Native Americans. Jamestown, Virginia is the site where the first Africans arrived in 1619. All of this may signal that the legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Conyers that has been long resisted, may be on the road to passage at its next introduction. Tasha Lynette Clopton February 26, 2007

How Will the Findings be Shared? Senator Hunter shared that she envisions that the Commissions findings and proposed remedies will be shared in the school system and via informational ad campaigns. Representative Washington expressed that the question of how the Commissions findings be shared would best be directed to Dr. Worrill, who was unavailable for comment at press time.

Tasha Lynette Clopton February 26, 2007

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