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Harvard University has made little progress on addressing its historical ties to slavery, despite committing $100 million to the cause in 2022, The Boston Globe reported.
The Ivy League institution earned praise two years ago when it released a report that not only detailed some of the ugliest aspects of its past but also recommended actions to rectify them. Even as some of its peer institutions have taken bold steps to reckon with their racial histories, however, Harvard has made only small gestures, such as launching a program to provide research opportunities for students from historically Black colleges and universities, the Globe reported.
Many of the top priorities listed in Harvard’s “Legacy of Slavery” report have not been accomplished, including establishing a permanent memorial to honor enslaved individuals who once labored on campus.
Critics told the Globe that assaults from conservative lawmakers and donors on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and the forced resignation of former president Claudine Gay last December, have diminished Harvard’s appetite for fully addressing the issue.
“This does not seem like it’s being handled with the care and consideration it deserves,” said Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a Harvard Kennedy School professor of history, race and public policy, who recently told the Globe he is leaving Harvard for Princeton. “Harvard has responded to attacks from Republicans by moving to the right.”
