Lawyers for descendants issue 10 recommended remedies
St. Louis, Missouri, May 13, 2024 (Globe Newswire) — Descendants of Saint Louis University Enslavement (DSLUE) As such, we will continue to advance our efforts in reparative justice. Saint Louis University Student Government Association (SGA)) passed a resolution encouraging universities to move forward with the Descendants 10-Point Plan as a starting point. On April 24, 2024, SGA Senate Resolution (SR) 007-24 acknowledged that the university “has not made substantial progress toward reconciling SLU’s history of enslavement” and acknowledged that “the university’s past and enslavement without directly atoning for, reconciling, or acknowledging.” This is in contrast to Saint Louis University's mission. ”
Remedies laid out in DSLUE's 10-point plan include a formal apology from the university, a university-wide effort to continue researching and preserving evidence of the university's dependence on slaves, commemorative and memorial events; and direct support from the university. Scholarships, financial opportunities, cash payments and more. The plan calls for the university to actively collaborate with he DSLUE to advance these initiatives, including fundraising efforts in support of the proposed initiatives.
“It was a historic moment to see SGA student leadership unanimously vote in favor of the resolution,” he said. Robin Proudy, Founder of DSLUE. “We are grateful and humbled by their support,” Proudi said, encouraged by his recent outreach from his university. “Although things seem to be moving in a positive direction, it's been almost five years since the university first reached out to Descendants, and I think it's long past time to resolve this issue.” My grandmother, three-time exile Henrietta Mills, was one of many ancestors born into slavery at SLU.
Areva Martin et al. One of the lead attorneys representing DSLUE said, “Student government has talked about this plan and embraced it. This plan is not only what is best for the descendants themselves, but also what is best for Saint Louis University. “It reflects the tremendous effort and consideration on the part of the descendants of the deceased.” And community. The harm caused by this issue is multifaceted, and remedies beyond scholarships and bursaries need to be as well. ”
Saint Louis University (SLU) is facing revelations from the Slavery, History, Memory, and Reconciliation Project, which first launched an investigation in 2016. As a result, a report submitted to SLU's board of directors in 2019 revealed that the Jesuits had been forced to do so. Enslaved people were moved from Maryland to Missouri specifically to use stolen labor and skills to build and maintain the SLU. The research revealed the names and experiences of specific individuals enslaved by the Jesuits from 1823 to 1865, and also identified some of their descendants. This study does not include determining the value of unpaid wages of descendants' ancestors or the economic value of forced donations to universities. The attorneys representing DSLUE worked with two of the nation's leading experts to develop an unprecedented valuation of stolen wages. Dr. Thomas Kramer and Dr. Julian Malveaux used well-documented historical U.S. wage data to calculate the economic benefits that SLU accumulated from slave ownership. They calculated that the total amount of wages lost in SLU slaves' unpaid wages alone (not taking into account loss of freedom, loss of investment opportunities, pain and suffering, and other factors) was calculated at a conservative 3 percent interest rate. Estimates range from $361 million to well over $70. $1 billion at 6% interest.
Support for the details of the 10-point plan was reflected in a letter to DSLUE. Adolphus M. Pruitt II, St. Louis NAACP President“These remedies can support reconciliation and healing, serve as concrete steps to address the legacy of slavery and its ongoing effects, and also address the challenges of exploitation and oppression,” he said. It could serve as a model for other institutions seeking to confront their own history.”
SGA's action is in line with that of students at Georgetown University, who in 2019 proposed creating a fund to help descendants of slaves sold by the school in 1838 repay their debts. An overwhelming majority voted in favor. Promote a formal reparations program at Georgetown.
“The university recently established liaisons in the provost's office with SLU's new vice president for special projects, and these liaisons held two initial meetings with descendants and their representatives,” Martin said. “While we have not yet received a commitment from the school, we are encouraged by their support and hope that the school honors its mission and quickly adopts this plan to repair the damage caused.” I hope you will.”
CONTACT: BJ Coleman Special Needs Network abjcoleman@imageelevators.com
