Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative
Harvard Spotlight
Evelynn Hammonds
Evelynn Hammonds is one of six advisors on the H&LS Initiative’s Advisory Council. She is a historian of science and medicine and public health with a particular focus on the history of scientific and medical racism. As the Barbara Gutmann Rosenkrantz Professor of the History of Science and Professor of African and African American Studies, Hammonds also conducts research in the areas of women, gender, and sexuality studies through the lens of black feminist theory and practice. She advises the H&LS Initiative in its work to deepen partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) through efforts like the Du Bois Scholars Program.
Read Hammonds’ personal reflections on the H&LS Initiative’s work and her vision for it
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.