Exodus 21:16 (KJV) And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

A Prayer For America

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was created to investigate gross human rights violations that were perpetrated during the period of South African Apartheid from 1960 to 1994, including abductions, killings, torture. Its mandate covered both violation by both the state and the liberation movements and allowed the commission to hold special hearings focused on specific sectors, institutions, and individuals. Controversially the TRC was empowered to grant amnesty to perpetrators who confessed their crimes truthfully and completely to the commission. No vow vow was made to repent from such crimes.

The TRC was comprised of seventeen commissioners: nine men and eight women. Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu chaired the commission. The TRC lasted 7 years, from December 1995 to 2002. 

The commission's report was presented to President Mandela in October 1998. The report was widely disseminated and is available online, https://www.justice.gov.za/trc/report/finalreport...

Around 2010 certain white church leaders put forth the idea that American churches should publically accept responsibility for the enslavement of African persons whose descendants live amongst us today, and ask them for forgiveness. Some saw such confessions as useless; how could any group of people confess sins committed by others? Further, how valid would such confessions be without repentance; no turning from the crimes or making any vow not to repeat them?

Back to Exodus 21:16. This is not a passive verse. So why have we not witnessed it? The issue might be with the lack of demands put upon this word.

Someone knew, here in America and in South Africa. And they also knew about the escape provided by God;  

Ezekiel 18:19 (NIV) “Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.