Reflections on Florida's 2008 apology for slavery

I don’t know where Gov. Ron DeSantis was on March 26, 2008, but apparently, he was not at the joint session of the Legislature when Florida became the sixth U.S. state apologizing for slavery.

On that date and with unanimous bipartisan support, Senate Concurrent Resolution 2930 was adopted, expressing “profound regret for the involuntary servitude of Africans and calling for reconciliation among all Floridians.” This resolution referenced the history of slavery in Florida, noting that it was sanctioned and enforced through laws enacted by Florida’s first Territorial Legislative Council in 1822. The resolution continued that “the Council and its successors did, over four decades, construct a legal framework that perpetuated African slavery in one of its most brutal and dehumanizing forms” which continued until the end of the American Civil War in 1865.

Regarding current discussions, I do not believe that slaves in Florida moved on from their nightmares with improved skill sets which placed them on a pathway to economic success and security. To think otherwise is fiction, given implementation of Florida’s Black Codes.

However, in this climate of political polarization, I think it is critical to reflect on excerpts of this Senate Concurrent Resolution which, according to a New York Times article published the next day, was well received by Senators and Representatives of both parties, as well as Gov. Charlie Crist who attended the joint session to watch the vote. House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, and Senate President Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, sat side by side during the proceedings. Emotions run high that day and rightly so.

Excerpts from the 2008 SCR adopted by unanimous voice votes:

WHEREAS, African slavery was sanctioned and enforced through laws enacted by Florida's first Territorial Legislative Council in 1822, andWHEREAS, the Council and its successors did, over four decades, construct a legal framework that perpetuated African slavery in one of its most brutal and dehumanizing forms, andWHEREAS, this legal framework included such lawful punishments as the following: "That any negro or other slave duly convicted of robbery… or burglary shall suffer death or have his or her ears nailed to posts and there stand for one hour and receive 30 lashes on his or her bareback at the discretion of the court," andWHEREAS, in 1827, free Africans were denied the right to vote and in later years were, by law, so repressed, restricted, and harassed that by 1850 most had been driven from Florida, andWHEREAS, African slavery was entrenched within the plantation culture of Middle Florida to such a degree that by the year 1860, 73 percent of the total population of Leon County were slaves, andWHEREAS, there were early political leaders in Florida who advocated a vigorous defense of slavery, andWHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has identified grave injustices inflicted upon African slaves and freemen by the state, andWHEREAS, even though the laws permitting such injustices have been repealed, it is important that the Legislature express profound regret for the shameful chapter in this state's history and, in so doing, promote healing and reconciliation among all Floridians,

NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida, the House of Representatives Concurring: That the Legislature expresses its profound regret for Florida's role in sanctioning and perpetuating involuntary servitude upon generations of African slaves.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature calls for healing and reconciliation among all state residents.

In the spirit of healing and reconciliation, it is my hope that the governor, lawmakers, executive agencies, and all Floridians reflect on this 2008 apology as we move forward in these unfortunately contentious times.

Sandy Feinzig is a retired lawyer currently residing in Monticello, Florida, with over 30 years of legal experience in both Florida and internationally where she focused on international law and development in post conflict countries.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Reflections on Florida's 2008 apology for slavery