On March 26, St. Louis University in Missouri, in partnership with the Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved (DSLUE), was set to host a ceremony to apologize for formerly enslaving people. However, hours before the event, DSLUE chose not to participate, according to a recent report from PBS.
“For five years we have done everything they have asked us to do,” said Robin Proudie, founder and executive director of DSLUE, “but what we will not do is become a photo opp so they can parade us around and act like we are in alignment with what they are doing.”
For several years, the St. Louis University administration has been conducting ongoing work for its Slavery, History, Memory, and Reconciliation Project (SHMR), an initiative aimed at learning more about the people who were previously enslaved by the university and connecting with their descendants. In 2024, The University News reported on a briefing held by DSLUE where leaders from the organization stated St. Louis University had not taken any meaningful action since announcing the SHMR project. According to DSLUE, the university owes them as much as $74 billion in stolen wages from their enslaved ancestors.
When DSLUE heard that the St. Louis University board of trustees voted to not include reparations as part of their formal reconciliation, the organization decided to pull out of the ceremony, citing concerns the process felt too symbolic.
Areva Martin, lead counsel for DSLUE, posted a statement on X in response to the organization’s decision to back out of the March 26 ceremony.
In the announcement, Proudie wrote, “Late last night, when we finally received the agenda and details of what Saint Louis University’s leadership planned to say, it became clear that their approach was completely dismissive of our efforts and priorities. Their plans showed a blatant disregard for the descendant-led process we had worked so hard to establish. I have poured countless hours, energy, and resources into ensuring that the descendants of St. Louis University Enslaved are acknowledged and that their voices are truly heard.”
DSLUE is open to negotiating with university administrators on a path forward and urges the university to reconsider its reconciliation process.
I am white. For me it seems beyond stupid to have an event that essentially says, “I’m sorry some of my potential ancestors kicked the a$$ of some of your potential ancestors.”