What's happening
This bill formally acknowledges and apologizes for New York State's role in slavery and the slave trade, recognizing them as crimes against humanity.
Why it matters
Explicit recognition of state complicity. The bill goes beyond general condemnation, acknowledging that New York State’s government actively sanctioned, exploited, and perpetuated slavery, including passing laws (slave codes) that harmed Black families and children.
Framing as crimes against humanity. It formally designates both the transatlantic and domestic slave trades, along with slavery itself, as crimes against humanity and against the state, underlining the moral and legal gravity of these acts.
Direct apology and historical responsibility. By issuing a formal apology, the state accepts responsibility for its actions and their lasting consequences, potentially influencing present-day conversations about racial justice, reparations, and public memory.
Personalization through historical figures. Citing Sojourner Truth personalizes the apology, connecting the state’s historical actions to individual lives and legacies, and highlighting the human impact of policies enacted by New York.
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Who cares
New York State government
The bill would formally acknowledge slavery and the slave trade as crimes against the state and humanity and apologize for the state's role in sanctioning, exploiting and perpetuating slavery and its vestiges.
Descendants of enslaved New Yorkers
The bill would formally recognize the denial of enslaved people's humanity and apologize for state-sanctioned exploitation and abuse.
Advocates preserving Sojourner Truth's legacy
The bill would explicitly invoke her life and legacy in acknowledging slave codes that enabled child exploitation and abuse and the dissolution of families.
Headline styles
New York Apologizes for Slavery
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5090
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 7, 2017
Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, KENNEDY, KRUEGER, PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend chapter 137 of the laws of 1817 relating to slaves and servants, in relation to acknowledging the tragedy of slavery in New York state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 137 of the laws of 1817 relating to slaves and servants is amended by adding a new section XXXII-a to read as follows:
§ XXXII-a. Acknowledges that slavery, the transatlantic and the domestic slave trade were appalling tragedies in the history of New York state not only because of their abhorrent barbarism but also in terms of their magnitude, organized nature and especially their negation of the humanity of the enslaved person. The government of the state of New York further acknowledges that the institutions of slavery and the slave trade in enslaved persons are now and should always have been crimes against this state as well as crimes against humanity. The government of the state of New York formally apologizes for its role in sanctioning, exploiting and perpetuating slavery and its vestiges, including the enactment of slave codes that created the exploitation and abuse of children, and the dissolution of their families as personified by the life and legacy of Sojourner Truth.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08270-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 137 of the laws of 1817 relating to slaves and servants, in relation to acknowledging the tragedy of slavery in New York state
Purpose
This bill acknowledges the tragedy of slavery in New York state and offers a formal apology from the State of New York for its role in perpetuating slavery.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. New York state government formally acknowledges and apologizes for the legalization and perpetuation of slavery and the slave trade in New York state.
Justification
For more than two hundred years, slavery existed in what became New York state. New York state government not only legalized the enslavement of Africans and their descendants, but also enacted "slave codes," taxes on the sale of enslaved persons and fines payable to the local government or poor house administrators for violations of the "slave codes." In chapter 137 of the laws of 1 817, for example, New York state government provided for the gradual emancipation of enslaved persons by July 4, 1827. This statute however, also provided penalties for harboring an enslaved person or servant, and permitted an enslaved person to be abandoned at age 21 with certification by local government.
As the World Conference Against Racism (Durban, South Africa, 2002) proclaimed in its final document, "...slavery and the slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so..." New York State should apologize for their role in the enslavement of Africans and their descendants.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Legislative history/ senate
2007-08: S. 3336-A/A.273-B(Wright)- Passed Assembly, Referred to Investigations and Government Operations 2009-10: S. 5646/A.1300(Wright)- Passed Assembly, Referred to Investigations and Government Operations 2011-12: S .1374/A.2975(Wright)- Passed Assembly, Referred to Investigations and Government Operations 2013-14: S .1272/A.2769(Wright)- Passed Assembly, Referred to Investigations and Government Operations 2015-16: S .2462/A.3857(Wright)- Passed Assembly, Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
Effective date
Takes effect immediately, with provisions.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.