Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative
Harvard Spotlight
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is one of six advisors on the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative’s Advisory Council. An esteemed scholar in African American History and the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, Gates is also known for his role in creating, hosting, and producing the PBS series, Finding Your Roots. Gates helps guide the Initiative’s efforts to advance descendant research as a member of the Advisory Board for the Initiative’s genealogical research partner, American Ancestors.
Read Gates’ reflections on understanding Harvard’s institutional history
About Us
Our mission is to understand and cast light on Harvard’s legacies of slavery and address enduring consequences through purposeful change. Our work is grounded in Harvard’s educational mission and the recommendations from the Report of the Presidential Committee on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery’s recommendations.
Learn more about the Initiative and the people implementing the work
The Report
Harvard University began reckoning with our legacy of slavery more than 15 years ago. In April 2022, the Report of the Presidential Committee on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery was released. This Report details three difficult truths about the University’s direct, financial, and intellectual ties to slavery, along with seven broad recommendations.
Implementation
Harvard University takes responsibility for our legacy of slavery and seeks to address enduring consequences by partnering with others in the Harvard community and with members of the descendant community in Cambridge, Boston, and beyond. We recognize that this work takes time. Over the next few years, the Initiative will focus our efforts on three priority areas: memorialization, advancing HBCU partnerships, and supporting descendant communities. We will also continue to provide learning opportunities and invite the Harvard community to join our reparative work.
Get Involved
As the Initiative enters the next phase of our strategy, we want to hear from you and leverage opportunities for partnership and learning.