Fact Check: Harvard identified over 900 enslaved individuals connected to its history.

Fact Check: "Harvard identified over 900 enslaved individuals connected to its history."

What We Know

The claim that "Harvard identified over 900 enslaved individuals connected to its history" is not entirely accurate. According to a report by the Presidential Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery, Harvard's historical ties to slavery include the enslavement of more than 70 individuals by its presidents, faculty, and staff from its founding in 1636 until the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts in 1783. These enslaved individuals were involved in various capacities, including laboring on campus and serving Harvard leaders and students (Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study).

While the report acknowledges the university's extensive engagement with slavery, it does not substantiate the figure of 900 enslaved individuals. Instead, it emphasizes the historical context of slavery's role in Harvard's development and the ongoing efforts to address this legacy (Harvard Gazette).

Analysis

The assertion of 900 enslaved individuals may stem from ongoing research efforts to identify and document the lives of enslaved people associated with Harvard. The university has initiated programs aimed at reconstructing family histories and identifying direct descendants of those enslaved (Harvard Gazette). However, as of the latest reports, the number of identified enslaved individuals remains significantly lower than 900.

The sources used to evaluate this claim are credible, including reports from Harvard's own institutions and scholarly committees. The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and the Harvard Gazette are authoritative sources that provide detailed accounts of Harvard's historical involvement with slavery. However, the lack of corroborating evidence for the figure of 900 suggests that this number may be speculative or based on future research goals rather than established historical fact.

Conclusion

The claim that Harvard has identified over 900 enslaved individuals is Partially True. While there is a significant acknowledgment of the university's history with slavery and the identification of over 70 enslaved individuals, the figure of 900 is not supported by current evidence. This discrepancy highlights the ongoing work at Harvard to uncover and document its historical ties to slavery, which may lead to more comprehensive figures in the future.

Fact Check: Harvard identified over 900 enslaved individuals connected to its history.