The St. Louis Reparations Commission unveiled its final report on Tuesday, detailing the city’s history of chattel slavery and systemic discrimination, as well as the lasting effects on Black residents. The report highlights disparities in areas such as housing, education, health care, policing, and employment, and urges city officials to take steps to repair the damage caused by racial injustices. The commission recommends that reparations be extended to Black families who have left the city due to past racism and can prove residency, as well as those who can trace their ancestry to enslaved individuals in St. Louis.
This eight-member volunteer commission held 27 public meetings from April 2023 to September 2024, during which local experts shared information on topics including redlining, environmental harm, health disparities, policing, and the destruction of Black communities in St. Louis. Black residents provided testimonies about their experiences with racism and offered input on how the city should address the harm done over the years.
