Fact Check: Harvard's Slavery Ties Revealed Over 900 Enslaved Individuals Linked to University Affiliates
What We Know
A recent report from the Presidential Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery has revealed that Harvard University has deep historical ties to slavery, including the identification of over 900 enslaved individuals linked to its affiliates. The report, which took nearly two and a half years to compile, highlights that between the university's founding in 1636 and the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts in 1783, more than 70 individuals were enslaved by Harvard presidents, faculty, and staff (Harvard Gazette). Furthermore, Richard Cellini, who led a research initiative to uncover these ties, reported that his team identified over 900 enslaved individuals and nearly 500 living descendants of these individuals (ETI Education San Diego).
The report also details how Harvard's financial growth was significantly supported by donations from individuals whose wealth was derived from slavery and slave-related industries (Summary of the Report's Key Findings). This financial connection persisted well into the 19th century, with more than a third of donations in that period coming from five men involved in the slave trade (Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery).
Analysis
The claim that Harvard's slavery ties include over 900 enslaved individuals linked to university affiliates is substantiated by credible sources. The report from the Presidential Committee is a comprehensive investigation led by reputable scholars, including Dean Tomiko Brown-Nagin, which adds to its reliability (Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery). The identification of over 900 enslaved individuals is a significant finding that underscores the university's historical entanglement with slavery.
However, it is essential to consider the context in which this research was conducted. The investigation was part of a broader movement among universities to reckon with their historical ties to slavery, which may introduce a degree of bias in the interpretation of findings. Nonetheless, the methodology employed in the research, including archival research and the examination of historical records, lends credibility to the reported figures (Summary of the Report's Key Findings).
Moreover, the acknowledgment of these findings by Harvard's administration, including the establishment of a $100 million fund to address the legacy of slavery, reflects a commitment to confronting this aspect of its history (Harvard Gazette). This proactive approach further supports the validity of the claims made in the report.
Conclusion
The claim that "Harvard's slavery ties revealed over 900 enslaved individuals linked to university affiliates" is True. The evidence presented in the report from the Presidential Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery is robust, with clear documentation of the university's historical connections to slavery and the identification of numerous enslaved individuals. The findings are supported by credible sources and have been acknowledged by Harvard's leadership, indicating a significant and troubling aspect of the university's history.
Sources
- Slavery probe: Harvard's ties inseparable from rise
- Summary of the Report's Key Findings
- Report - Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery
- Harvard Affiliates, Slavery, and the Slave Trade into the 19th Century
- Harvard Affiliates, Slavery, and the Slave Trade in the Colonial Era
- Financial Ties: Harvard and the Slavery Economy
- Slavery at Harvard | Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard
- Harvard hired a researcher to uncover its ties to slavery. He says the results cost him his job.
