NEWS
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THE ARTFUL L Reparations THE ARTFUL LO
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Virginia bill would require your living scholarships for descendants
EXPERIENCE NO BARS of enslaved laborers
space into
By Brielle Entzminger
not been for student activism, faculty supT L E Rorganizing.” port,AandI descendant EXTENDED RET If the bill is passed by the state senate, the colleges will have to tap into their large INF O R M AT I or nearly a year, Isabella Gibbons endowments (or fundraise) to pay for the has peered over Charlottesville. scholarship program, which would take Inscribed into the rough-hewn effect in the 2022-2023 academic year. They granite of the University of Virginia’s Mewill also be obligated to build a memorial morial to Enslaved Laborers, her eyes not toBEAR.indd enslaved1laborers, if they have not done only draw attention to the cruel realities CS-SALE ADS - POLAR so already. R E T Aof slavery—but I L E ask R what we are going to have already estabE X T E N D E D RAt E UVA, T A Idescendants LER E X P E R I E N C E N O B A R S . N O S P R I N G S . P U R E C O M F O Rdo T.to rectify them. lished their own independent organization. As UVA continues to atone for its racist I N finally F O R M Though A T I Othe Ngroup is still getting organized, history, a form of reparation may one of its main goals is to establish reparabe on the way for the living descendants E X T E N D E D R E TA I L E R tions scholarships. of enslaved laborers like Gibbons, who I N F O R M AT I O N “Our ancestors [not only] put their blood, helped build and maintain the university sweat, and tears into creating and building for decades. the university,” says Bertha French, co-chair On February 5, the Virginia House of CS-SALE ADS - POLAR BEAR.indd 1 of Descendants of Enslaved Communities Delegates passed a bill that would require ADS - POLAR BEAR.indd 1 1/7/20 3:35 PM A I L E R at UVA, “but their bodies were a part of a five state colleges established before 1865— D E D R E TA I L E E R X T E N D E D R E TA I L E R system of finance that were foundational the University of Virginia, Virginia Comto the beginnings of our country.” monwealth University, Virginia Military I N F O R M A T I O N F O R M AT I O N In addition to providing free higher Institute, Longwood University, and the ON SALE MARCH 6TH – APRIL 6TH education—which is “a passport for upCollege of William & Mary—to offer full ward mobility,” says French—to thousands four-year scholarships to descendants of enslaved laborers, allowing them to attend 1/7/20 3:35 PM the school of their1/7/20 choice. R.indd 1 3:35 PM “When you think about the centuries of legacy admissions that have occurred, this is really just the bare minimum that could be done for a community of people who are responsible for these institutions existing,” says Justin Reid, manager of the General Assembly Virginia African American Cultural Resources Task Force. “More than anything, this bill gives the General Assembly’s seal of approval for efJUSTIN REID, MANAGER OF THE forts that in many cases are already under218 West Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902 GENERAL ASSEMBLY VIRGINIA EXPE R I E– N CE way,” he adds. “There are institutions doing AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL 434-970-1900 I Tuesday – Saturday 11am 5pm this work that wouldn’t be doing it if it had RESOURCES TASK FORCE T H E O N LY reporter@c-ville.com
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“There are institutions doing this work that wouldn’t be doing it if it had not been for student activism, faculty support, and descendant organizing.”
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In an ongoing effort to atone for its racist history, the University of Virginia could provide scholarships to descendants of enslaved laborers as soon as 2022.
ON SALE NOW FEBRUARY 5-22
