Virginia Lawmaker Says Blacks 'Should Get Over' Slavery

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

RICHMOND, Va. — A state legislator said black people "should get over" slavery and questioned whether Jews should apologize "for killing Christ," drawing denunciations Tuesday from stunned colleagues.

Del. Frank D. Hargrove, 79, made his remarks in opposition to a measure that would apologize on the state's behalf to the descendants of slaves.

In an interview published Tuesday in The Daily Progress of Charlottesville, Hargrove said slavery ended nearly 140 years ago with the Civil War and added that "our black citizens should get over it."

The newspaper also quoted him as saying, "are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?"

Black lawmakers swiftly denounced Hargrove's comments.

"When somebody tells me I should just get over slavery, I can only express my emotion by projecting that I am appalled, absolutely appalled," said Del. Dwight C. Jones, head of the Legislative Black Caucus.

Del. David L. Englin also criticized Hargrove's remarks, recalling that his grandparents were driven from their homes in Poland "by people who believed that as Jews, we killed Christ."

When Hargrove rose to speak, he told Englin he didn't care about Englin's religion. "I think your skin was a little too thin," Hargrove said as lawmakers gasped and groaned.

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[peejay 327]

RICHMOND, Va. — A state legislator said black people "should get over" slavery and questioned whether Jews should apologize "for killing Christ," drawing denunciations Tuesday from stunned colleagues.

Del. Frank D. Hargrove, 79, made his remarks in opposition to a measure that would apologize on the state's behalf to the descendants of slaves.

In an interview published Tuesday in The Daily Progress of Charlottesville, Hargrove said slavery ended nearly 140 years ago with the Civil War and added that "our black citizens should get over it."

The newspaper also quoted him as saying, "are we going to force the Jews to apologize for killing Christ?"

Black lawmakers swiftly denounced Hargrove's comments.

"When somebody tells me I should just get over slavery, I can only express my emotion by projecting that I am appalled, absolutely appalled," said Del. Dwight C. Jones, head of the Legislative Black Caucus.

Del. David L. Englin also criticized Hargrove's remarks, recalling that his grandparents were driven from their homes in Poland "by people who believed that as Jews, we killed Christ."

When Hargrove rose to speak, he told Englin he didn't care about Englin's religion. "I think your skin was a little too thin," Hargrove said as lawmakers gasped and groaned.

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The old guy isn't shy or lacking in opinion. At least you know where the hell he stands on the issue.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Senile old man probably relives the "war of northern aggression" in his dreams every night, too.

[Jenn! 918]

I thought Jesus was killed by the Romans. What decade is this guy from?

[almaty 19]

the old guy...is an old backward chopf##k...

[Hornet 2]

I thought Jesus was killed by the Romans. What decade is this guy from?

If you believe the Bible it was the Jewish crowd basically. They had the choice between Barabas and Jesus.

Pontius Pilate just wanted to prevent rebellion.

I could care less except the problems it still causes today. ie "My god is better than your god" nenernener

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Slavery is long gone. Get over it. It was bad. It happened. But its gone. So is Jesus.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Slavery is long gone. Get over it. It was bad. It happened. But its gone. So is Jesus.

But the effects of it are not

[thetreble 19]

The effects are definitely not gone; I will agree with that. However, until the day I die, I will not take blame for something I did not do, that was a product of a time hundreds of years before I even existed.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The effects are definitely not gone; I will agree with that. However, until the day I die, I will not take blame for something I did not do, that was a product of a time hundreds of years before I even existed.

Who's blaming you for slavery?

[thetreble 19]

Not any one I suppose. But I have come across this question a lot. Since I am Caucasian, and it is a very US VS THEM mentality when it comes to talking about slavery, the finger is often pointed at the white society. I am a part of that, am I not? :/

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The effects are definitely not gone; I will agree with that. However, until the day I die, I will not take blame for something I did not do, that was a product of a time hundreds of years before I even existed.

I wouldn't say you (or I) are to blame, but its easy to forget that we inherited the clean end of the stick (with all the benefits attached to that).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Not any one I suppose. But I have come across this question a lot. Since I am Caucasian, and it is a very US VS THEM mentality when it comes to talking about slavery, the finger is often pointed at the white society. I am a part of that, am I not? :/

A symbolic, historical apology is like what the Pope did when he apologized for the way so many priests and bishops in Nazi Germany turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed against the Jews.

When someone I know tells me about a tragic event that happened to them, I usually say I'm sorry that happened to you...it's the same idea.

[Dan J 277]

The effects are definitely not gone; I will agree with that. However, until the day I die, I will not take blame for something I did not do, that was a product of a time hundreds of years before I even existed.

I wouldn't say you (or I) are to blame, but its easy to forget that we inherited the clean end of the stick (with all the benefits attached to that).

There are people still expecting reparations for conditions they never experienced and from people that never committed them. Case in point, my family, on my moms side, came to the US in the late 1800's after the civil war. My Dads family is still mostly in Sweden. Should I be responsible for slavery when my family wasn't even in the US?

There are effects of slavery and the segregation that followed still present, but we should be focused on fixing the inequalities rather than providing free handouts to the descendents of slaves as some people would like.

[Heracles 417]

The effects are definitely not gone; I will agree with that. However, until the day I die, I will not take blame for something I did not do, that was a product of a time hundreds of years before I even existed.

I wouldn't say you (or I) are to blame, but its easy to forget that we inherited the clean end of the stick (with all the benefits attached to that).

There are people still expecting reparations for conditions they never experienced and from people that never committed them. Case in point, my family, on my moms side, came to the US in the late 1800's after the civil war. My Dads family is still mostly in Sweden. Should I be responsible for slavery when my family wasn't even in the US?

There are effects of slavery and the segregation that followed still present, but we should be focused on fixing the inequalities rather than providing free handouts to the descendents of slaves as some people would like.

Only 1.5% of Americans owned slaves yet apparently everyone should be punished for it. Including people like myself who recently migrated here, because I am white.

Anyone see any double standards here IE EG

BET = Cool maaaaan!!

WET = KKK loving, plantation owning, segregation backing RACISTS!!

Edited August 5, 2007 by Boo-Yah!