Black leaders praise Brown slavery study

[MonteSano]

Joaquina Bela Teixeira says she was not expecting Brown University to make any monetary reparations. Nor is Teixeira, who is the executive director of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, unfamiliar with the Ivy League institution’s historic ties to slavery explored in a long-awaited report released Tuesday.

But Brown has made “a first reparation . . . by repairing the historical record,” says Teixeira.

“We owe them a debt of gratitude; for the first time, an institution has looked at its role and said, ‘We’re responsible.’ ” No matter what the public response may ultimately be, Teixeira says the report furnishes groundwork for essential dialogue.

Teixeira is one of several prominent players in the state’s black community who yesterday offered their thoughts on the 106-page report released on Tuesday by the Brown Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice. University President Ruth J. Simmons, a descendent of slaves, established the 17-member committee. The report was three years in the making.


http://www.projo.com/news/content/Brown20_10-20-06_E32FJFO.3f89319.html