Robin Proudie is a dedicated activist and advocate for reparative justice, serving as the Founder and Executive Director of Descendants of St. Louis University Enslaved (DSLUE). Her journey into this work began in 2019 when researchers from the Slavery, History, Memory, and Reconciliation (SHMR) Projectâa collaboration between the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and Saint Louis University (SLU)âconnected with her and her family. They discovered that her ancestors were among those enslaved by the Jesuits. This revelation propelled Robin into a mission to honor her lineage and fight for justice.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Robin left at 18 to serve in the U.S. Navy. However, her roots called her back home, where she now leads the charge in advocating for awareness, acknowledgment, and reparations for the families of those enslaved at SLU. Her personal interest in genealogy and historical research played a crucial role in her founding of DSLUE. “I was already on a genealogical website doing research for my maternal and paternal side. I always wanted to know who we were beyond enslavement. Thatâs what made me want to create it,” Robin explained.
The Fight for Reparations and Historical Awareness
Robin strongly believes in the importance of bringing awareness to historical injustices and advocating for reparations. Reflecting on her family’s past, she shared, “When I found everything out and looked at the actual names of my people who had to endure life and make a life after Emancipation, I can’t even imagine what they endured during those times. It was heartbreakingâfamilies torn apart, women throwing themselves on the ground because their husbands were being taken and sold away as slaves.”
She also pointed out the ongoing efforts to erase Black history from school curricula and public knowledge. “Every time there is a little bit of movement towards equality, there is an uprising to take us back. Look at what happened with Black Wall Streetâit happened all over the country. There is a collective effort to try to erase our history, banning books by Black authors, removing AP classes. Itâs just insane to me. But no matter how hard they try, we take our history with usâwe are our history.”
Robinâs work is deeply rooted in the principles of reparations, which, she clarifies, go far beyond monetary compensation. “There are five types of reparations: restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition. We have a right to reparations from the institutions that have perpetrated these human rights violations against our bloodlines.”
A Formal Apology and the Path Forward
A significant milestone in her advocacy efforts is the upcoming formal apology ceremony from SLU, scheduled for March 26, 2025, at St. Francis Xavier College Church. “When I talked about reparations, this is the first step. Finally, we are moving toward a collaborative effort. We have submitted a 10-point plan that includes the five different forms of reparations. The first step is a formal and public apology. This event will be powerfulâSLU will apologize to the descendants. Itâs open to the public. This is for all of us in the community.”
Challenges and Triumphs
Despite her successes, Robin acknowledges that one of her greatest challenges has been mobilizing her own community. “Getting our people to understand and believe in ourselves enough to see that if we all come together, we can be very powerful. But as long as they can keep us distracted, they will always try to divide us.”
However, her greatest accomplishment remains education and manifestation. “Being able to speak truth to power and manifest what I said I was going to doâstarting the conversation and process for reparationsâis my biggest achievement.”
Legacy and Final Reflections
When asked about her legacy, Robin’s response was simple yet profound: “That I loved my people. I loved us. I see who we areâalthough we are not perfect, I see our soul and our heart. And I did this for my people.”
Robin Proudie’s work is a nod to the power of resilience, education, and dedication to justice. Through DSLUE, she is ensuring that the history of our ancestors are acknowledged and honored, and that their descendants receive the justice they deserve. Her mission is a reminder that the past is not forgotten and that the fight for justice continues.
#HerStoryMatters #BlackHistory #JusticeChampion
