WASHINGTON - For the first time in history, the entire US Congress is apologizing for slavery.

Thursday, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution officially acknowledging and apologizing for what it called the "fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery."

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin co-sponsored the resolution along with several of his other senate colleagues. African Americans have spent decades fighting for rights and equal treatment. Now, there is a new victory to celebrate.

"This resolution will not fix lingering injustices. While we are proud of this resolution and believe it is long-overdue, the real work lies ahead,” Harkin said.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Senator Harkin, attempts to apologize for slavery. Local civil rights leaders say they're proud the resolution came from an Iowa lawmaker.

"I think African Americans have always waited for it, but kind of gave up hope it would ever formally happen,” Civil Rights Commission Executive Director Karl Cassell said.

African American Museum Director Tom Moore said, "We have legislation abolishing slavery, so we acknowledge that it existed. Why not say I'm sorry? Then, let's patch things up and move on."

Even though it's taken decades for the government to officially apologize for slavery, African Americans say they still appreciate the gesture.

"It really enables us to move to higher levels of healing. It's something African Americans truly value,” Moore said.

Cassell said, "You don't hold people alive today accountable for that, but you appreciate that they understand we stand on each other's shoulders."

While the days of segregation and slavery may seem stuck in history books, the resolution proves that period of time in American history continues to shape the way the country works today.

The House will officially vote on the resolution next week. America officially abolished slavery in 1865.

Click here to read the full senate resolution.

E-mail Mark Geary at Mark.Geary@kcrg.com or follow him on Twitter.