Fact Check: Harvard's History Includes Enslaved Labor in Campus Buildings
What We Know
Recent investigations have confirmed that Harvard University has a complex and troubling history involving enslaved labor. According to a report by the Presidential Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery, released in April 2022, more than 70 individuals were enslaved by Harvard presidents, faculty, and staff from the university's founding in 1636 until slavery was deemed unlawful in Massachusetts in 1783. Some of these enslaved individuals worked directly on campus, providing labor that supported the university's operations and its students (Harvard Gazette, Radcliffe Institute).
The report highlights that enslaved people served various roles, including caretakers for Harvard presidents and staff, and they were integral to the university's early functioning (Radcliffe Institute). Notably, individuals such as Titus, Venus, Juba, and Bilhah were documented as having served Harvard presidents Benjamin Wadsworth and Edward Holyoke (Radcliffe Institute). Furthermore, the financial underpinnings of Harvard's growth were significantly bolstered by donations from individuals whose wealth was derived from slave labor and the slave trade (Harvard Magazine).
Analysis
The evidence presented in the report is robust and comes from a thorough investigation that spanned nearly two and a half years. The committee, led by historian Tomiko Brown-Nagin, utilized archival research to uncover the extent of Harvard's ties to slavery, both in terms of direct involvement and financial support from donors engaged in slave-related enterprises (Harvard Gazette, Radcliffe Institute). The findings are corroborated by multiple sources, including historical records and previous studies that have examined slavery in New England (Radcliffe Institute, Washington Post).
The credibility of the sources is high, as they are derived from Harvard's own research initiatives and reputable news outlets. The committee's report has been accepted by Harvard's leadership, indicating institutional acknowledgment of this historical reality (Harvard Gazette). Additionally, the report emphasizes the need for a reckoning with this past, which is echoed by various scholars and committee members who stress the importance of confronting historical injustices (Harvard Magazine).
While some may argue that the historical context of slavery is complex and that institutions evolve over time, the evidence clearly shows that enslaved labor was a significant part of Harvard's early operations. This acknowledgment is crucial for understanding the university's legacy and its ongoing impact on racial dynamics in education (Radcliffe Institute, Washington Post).
Conclusion
The claim that "Harvard's history includes enslaved labor in campus buildings" is True. The evidence from the Presidential Committee's report and corroborating sources clearly establishes that enslaved individuals were part of Harvard's operational history, contributing labor that supported the university's growth and functioning. This acknowledgment is an essential step in addressing the historical injustices associated with slavery and understanding their lasting implications.
Sources
- Slavery probe: Harvard's ties inseparable from rise
- Slavery at Harvard | Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard
- Introduction and Findings | Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard
- Slavery in New England and at Harvard | Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard
- Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Report | Harvard - Harvard College
- PDF Harvard & The Legacy of Slavery Initiative
- Harvard leaders and staff enslaved 79 people, university finds
- Harvard's Ties to Slavery - Harvard Magazine
