Colorado has never allowed slavery, right?
Not exactly, says History Colorado researcher . For instance, there鈥檚 Joel Estes, the founder of Estes Park, held five slaves, back when Colorado was a territory.
鈥淥ur approach over the next two years is to dive into the archives, to pull up and elevate the research that already is there,鈥� Duplessis says.
And that鈥檚 just one misperception Duplessis鈥� group of researchers have already uncovered since starting work in December. Late last week, the team briefed the 鈥� a panel of lawmakers, academics and other Black leaders 鈥� about their progress so far.
The study is intended to steer state laws in four key areas: health, education, criminal justice and the wealth gap. Senate President is chairing the commission, but it鈥檚 being conducted by an outside organization, . Money for the project is coming mainly through .
The team plans to spend two and a half years poring through archives to review 鈥� and sometimes correct 鈥� the historical record of Colorado鈥檚 treatment of Black residents. and , , and are among the topics they鈥檒l explore.
The study will also gather oral histories from living Coloradans of all races.
鈥淢aybe you drove a bus during integration. Maybe you worked in social services. Maybe you were an educator,鈥� Duplessis says. 鈥淲e also want to hear from you.鈥�
The team plans to deliver a report, which will then be turned by another organization into policy recommendations. But researchers say they鈥檒l publish findings monthly on the commission鈥檚 website as they go along.
They hope the postings will gradually dispel skepticism toward the work. Republicans in the state legislature last year fought the commission鈥檚 founding, fearing it鈥檚 intended to pave the way toward reparations.
Duplessis points to the Estes finding as an example. Whether Joel Estes held slaves in Colorado has been disputed, but she says her team has found a letter from the family itself that proves it.
鈥淲e thought it fitting to honor one of the questions ... that many may use to dismiss the merit of the work that we are doing,鈥� she says.
She left the commissioners with copies of the letter.
