U.S. Rejects Vote to Recognize Slavery as a ‘Crime Against Humanity’
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The United States voted against a U.N. resolution led by Ghana that recognized the trans-Atlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity” and called for apologies and reparations from member states.
- Ghana's President John Mahama emphasized the resolution as a safeguard against forgetting slavery and criticized the discouragement of teaching about slavery and racism in American schools.
- The African Union has declared 2026-2035 the Decade of Action on Reparations, with Ghana leading efforts to seek reparations and encourage people of African descent to reconnect with their ancestral roots.
- U.S. representative Dan Negrea opposed the resolution, arguing it inappropriately ranked crimes against humanity and defended President Trump’s record on supporting Black Americans.
- The debate reflects broader tensions over how slavery and racial history are taught and addressed in the U.S., with criticism of Trump’s educational policies and his approach to Black history.
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