Should Arkansas Apologize For Slavery?
By: Alex Flippin
Updated: June 6, 2007
Alabama recently became the fourth Southern state to formally apologize for slavery and now one Arkansas legislator believes the time has come to do so in our state. On Wednesday KNWA spoke with the director of African-American Studies at the University of Arkansas, Charles Robinson. He says he believes an apology is way overdue, but its also a bit meaningless. Robinson tells us that unless Arkansans can benefit from the apology, making one just doesnt make a lot of sense. Additional education programs or programs to help the impoverished would be a good way to send the message that the state is sorry for its role in slavery, but also that its willing to give a little back in light of taking freedom away from so many, according to Robinson. Governor Beebe has been quoted as saying Arkansas has moved past the point of apologizing and that he feels that the state already has a good feel for working together.
