FESTIVAL BRINGS OUT VIEWS ON ATONEMENT.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

The way Bessie Miller sees it, the federal government stripped her slave ancestors of their names, their culture and their language. And she wants it back - preferably in the form of an apology and reparations.

``If you do someone wrong, you need to apologize and do whatever you can to make it right,'' said Miller, one of dozens of people who attended a Juneteenth celebration at Cal State Northridge on Saturday.

The idea of a federal apology for slavery cast a new light on the Juneteenth Festival and Bazaar, which commemorates the emancipation of African-American slaves in Texas two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The United States already has given an apology and $20,000 to compensate every Japanese-American who was interned during World War II. Now President Clinton, who delivered a major speech on race relations in America last week, is considering issuing an apology for slavery.

``They stripped us of our culture and heritage,'' said Miller, part of a 28-member choir performing at the festival. ``I want it back.''

Jermaine Thompson, president of the Black Student Union of Cal State Northridge, also supports a federal apology for slavery and reparations.

``We worked many years providing free labor and we need to be compensated,'' Thompson said. ``An apology is all words and no action. Action needs to be taken.''

Charles Parker, director of the Fresno Temple Choir performing at Saturday's event, said an apology is unnecessary.

``I don't know what effect it would have on individuals,'' he said. ``It's been said already. How many times is an apology warranted for something that's been done over 100 years ago?''

Cal State Northridge Professor Barbara Rhodes said she supports a federal apology but doesn't expect reparations.

``Reparations have become more a symbolic issue rather than an expectation. We live in a market-driven economy,'' she said. ``I don't think (the federal government) is going to make that kind of commitment.''

Cynthia Porter, an event organizer, said a federal apology is a step in the right direction but won't eliminate the job and housing discrimination African-Americans now face.

``Mentally, morally, it's significant but it won't change things,'' she said. ``There's so much racism in the world.''

Margaret Mott, another event organizer, fears that a federal apology will divert attention from more important issues such as restoring affirmative action programs to boost opportunities for minorities and women in education and employment where they have historically been excluded.

``We need to really focus on what's necessary - making sure that affirmative action programs are not dismantled without having something else in place.''

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2 Photos

Photo: (1) Elizabeth Camilo models African-style clothing for sale Saturday at the Juneteenth Festival and Bazaar at Cal State Northridge.

(2) Percy Sanders, left, and Keith Houston dance to the Juneteenth event music.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News