Florida has become the sixth American state who formally apologized for “the shameful chapter” of slavery.

The state’s two legislature chambers passed on Wednesday a two-page resolution which expresses "profound regret” for the period between 1822 and 1865, when the American Civil War ended. The resolution, which passed overwhelmingly in the Senate and then the House, underlined the fact that the state of Florida sanctioned and enforced "African slavery in one of its most brutal and dehumanizing forms."

The formal apologies for what presidential candidate Barack Obama labeled as America’s “original sin” was regarded as “a step forward” towards reconciliation by Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who quoted philosopher Edmund Burke on this:

“All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing,” said Crist after the voting.

"The Legislature expresses its profound regret for Florida's role in sanctioning and perpetuating involuntary servitude upon generations of African slaves," said the resolution.

Several black lawmakers, with Democrat Sen. Anthony C. Hill Sr. leading the way, have been pushing for a formally apology since 2007. Fortunately, their efforts paid off and Florida issued a slavery-related apology similar to those released by North Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey.

Although the statement didn’t use the word apology, its intent was clear. The words used in the resolution brought Democratic Sens. Larcenia Bullard, of Miami, and Arthenia Joyner, of Tampa, to tears.

"I knew the facts, but to hear it put in those terms, I just fell apart," Joyner said.

The measure passed by Florida’s legislative chambers didn’t go so far as to call for reparations for the descendants of the slaves, but Republican Gov. Charlie Crist said he was open to the idea if the descendancy can be determined.