Opinion | Kelsey Klotz: How Ellie Kemper's creepy debutante ball reveals a much broader problem. - NBCNewsTHINK
According to the mythology created by Slayback, the Veiled Prophet figure is a veiled, wealthy man from the geographically nonspecific "east" who expects opulent receptions and visits St. Louis annually as a special blessing. At the ball, daughters of VPO members are presented , and the prophet selects one to reign as Queen of Love and Beauty.
For more than a century, Black St. Louisans have protested the VPO and the systems it both symbolized and perpetuated — systems that support or protect white people through the domination or silencing of nonwhite people. For example, the VPO frequently conflated wealth, success and a selectively defined moral good, qualities made exclusive by the organization's whites-only membership. Early 20th century middle-class Black St. Louisans looking to become involved in the VPO
their own African Veiled Prophet Balls, insisting that they also be considered prominent and successful men of society.
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