Russell Simmons Speaks on U.S. Senate's Slavery Apology

On Thursday, the United States Senate delivered a unanimous resolution on the eve of Juneteenth apologizing for slavery and segregation. The resolution, which had been introduced a few years back, is the first official statement on behalf of the U.S. Government to acknowledge responsibility for slavery, as well as segregation.

Co-founder of Def Jam, Russell Simmons, recently responded to the apology explaining that it was acceptable, but that more work needs to be done. “The pain has lasted for the past 144 years, and now with our government taking the right step in apologizing, I know that we can begin to heal,” he said in a blog post on Huffingtonpost.com.

Continuing, Simmons put the event into historical context. “This was a day that many of us have dreamed about for our entire lives. This was a day that many who were at the forefront of this struggle could not enjoy because they are no longer with us. And for those heroes, I go to work every day to make sure that they are never forgotten.”

Simmons, who also acts as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, stated he will work to make sure this history never repeats, and also asked citizens of America to take part in the process. “I urge you all to take a moment to recognize the importance of the actions of the United States Senate. Let the healing continue.”