Yale apologizes for role in slavery
On Friday, University President Peter Salovey and Joshua Bekenstein ’80, senior trustee of the Yale Corporation, jointly issued a formal apology and outlined a set of actions in response to Yale’s historical ties to slavery.
This announcement coincided with the release of a comprehensive book titled “Yale and Slavery: A History,” which represents the culmination of research conducted by the Yale and Slavery Working Group. Formed in 2020 under Salovey’s guidance, this group comprises faculty, students, researchers, and New Haven residents, with Professor David Blight, an expert in history and African American studies, leading the endeavor.
The book, now available in its entirety online, presents key findings that are also accessible through the project’s dedicated website.
Yale’s introspection into its past relationship with slavery mirrors similar initiatives at other prestigious institutions. In April 2022, Harvard pledged $100 million to address its historical entanglements with slavery, coinciding with the release of its own comprehensive report on the subject.
Salovey and Bekenstein framed this project not only as an acknowledgment of Yale’s historical complicity with slavery but also as a formal apology for the direct involvement of Yale’s leaders in slavery. They noted that the research findings have catalyzed the university's commitment to addressing the ongoing ramifications of enslavement.
Steven Rome ’20, who conducted research for the project, highlighted the significance of these findings, stressing that they represent just the beginning of a broader inquiry into the historical impact of institutions like Yale.
Blight's research unveiled the significant role enslaved individuals played in constructing Yale’s buildings and in the lives of prominent benefactors. While there's no evidence that Yale University itself owned enslaved people, many of its Puritan founders and early leaders did. Blight emphasized the need to recognize this complex history, including Yale's involvement in thwarting the establishment of America’s first Black college.
The university has taken steps to disseminate these findings widely. An exhibition at the New Haven Museum showcases key aspects detailed in the book, and Yale is distributing copies to local public libraries and high schools. Additionally, campus tours have been updated to incorporate these discoveries, and a new app offers self-guided tours focusing on Yale’s connections to slavery.
Yale also intends to ensure that its physical campus reflects a comprehensive understanding of its history, with initiatives such as the Committee for Art Representing Enslavement commissioning works to address Yale’s ties to slavery. Plans include updating Connecticut Hall, the university’s oldest building, to better reflect its historical connections.
Moreover, Yale is actively engaging with the New Haven community to address educational and economic disparities. Initiatives include increasing support for the New Haven Promise scholarship program and launching a residency fellowship program to address the shortage of teachers in the area.
Looking ahead, Kimberly Goff-Crews will chair a new committee tasked with facilitating conversations with student leaders and New Haven residents to guide future engagement with the research findings. Salovey, who will step down as president in June, anticipates that his successor will continue this important work.
As Yale approaches its 300th anniversary, this commitment to reckoning with its past reflects a broader movement toward historical accountability and reconciliation among academic institutions.
Commenti