The St. Louis City Reparations Committee called for $25,000 in direct cash payments to descendants of slaves and is asking the city to formally apologize for its role in slavery, according to a report released Wednesday.
The report claims that black St. Louis residents who are descendants of slaves and affected by “systematic racism” should be compensated with cash payments while offering tax exemptions to keep residents from facing any financial hurdles regarding compensation. Following the cash payments, the commission also urged the city to issue a formal apology for its role in slavery, claiming it would be a stepping stone for recognizing the alleged longstanding “pain, suffering and disenfranchisement” it caused.