Local historian Dr. Evelyn Reed delivered a powerful and poignant presentation yesterday at the University of Missouri (MU), reminding attendees of the institution’s inextricable link to slavery and its enduring legacy. Her talk, part of the university’s ongoing commitment to confronting its past, focused on the often-overlooked contributions of enslaved people to MU’s founding and early development.
Dr. Reed meticulously detailed how enslaved individuals labored to build the university’s infrastructure, from laying the foundation of its iconic buildings to cultivating the land that sustained the institution. She presented evidence showcasing the enslaved population’s integral role in the university’s agricultural endeavors, highlighting their unrecorded toil that directly benefited the institution’s financial stability and growth. Furthermore, she challenged the common narrative that overlooks the contributions of enslaved people, emphasizing their forced labor as a crucial but often ignored component of MU’s success.
“We can’t understand the University of Missouri’s history without acknowledging the profound impact of slavery,” Dr. Reed stated. “To ignore their contributions is to erase a fundamental aspect of our institutional narrative and perpetuate a sanitized version of the past.”
The presentation wasn’t solely focused on the physical labor; Dr. Reed also touched upon the social and psychological impact of slavery on the university community. She highlighted the complex power dynamics and the inherent inequalities that shaped the campus environment, influencing everything from social hierarchies to academic access.
The event, attended by students, faculty, and community members, generated significant discussion and prompted a renewed focus on the university’s responsibility to reckon with its past. Dr. Reed’s research serves as a crucial call to action, urging MU to actively engage in a deeper examination of its historical ties to slavery and to work towards a more inclusive and equitable future. The university’s commitment to continuing this dialogue, evidenced by events like Dr. Reed’s presentation, offers a glimmer of hope for a more honest and complete understanding of MU’s complex history.