Harvard University publicly acknowledged its deep ties to colonial-era slavery on Friday, casting a light on parts of its history that long remained in the shadows.
At a conference that Harvard organized to explore the relationship between colleges and slavery, university President Drew Faust said the school must confront the grimmer parts of its past before it can move forward. Join the converstsation!
In an urgently worded letter recently sent to Harvard, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne demanded that the university pay his country reparations “for the gains Harvard enjoyed at the expense” of Antiguan slaves.
Browne’s Oct. 30 letter to Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow — reported Tuesday night by the Miami Herald and Harvard Crimson — draws a direct line from Harvard Law School’s success today to the oppression of Antiguans enslaved by a Massachusetts-based plantation owner in the Colonial era. Join the conversation!
The Dog the Bounty Hunter star was recorded going on a rant about his son’s black girlfriend. In the 45-second clip, he used the N-word six times. After its release, he gave an apology. “I did not mean to add yet another slap in the face to an entire race of people who have brought so many gifts to this world,” he said according to Today. “I am ashamed of myself and I pledge to do whatever I can to repair this damage I have caused.” His show was later canceled. Join the conversation!
The chef was sued by former employees who accused her of sexual and racial discrimination in the workplace, according to The Huffington Post. During the deposition, Deen, a popular food celebrity, admitted to using the N-word and telling anti-Semitic jokes. She also allegedly wanted to hire black waiters and make them wear white gloves to look like slaves for a wedding. She was fired from the Food Network for the scandal. She also made an apology video for her remarks. Join the conversation!
A lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan in February accused one of the nation’s largest banks, M&T Bank, of racial discrimination and even had secret tapings to back its claims. The lawsuit was filed by the Fair Housing Justice Center in New York that is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. From 2012 to 2014, the Fair Housing Justice Center sent actors of different racial backgrounds to the bank to see if they would qualify for a mortgage. Black, Latino and Asian homebuyers were frequently denied mortgages, although they presented better incomes and credit scores than the white actors. Many of the interactions were secretly taped. The lawsuit also claims that the bank was caught encouraging homebuyers to move to certain neighborhoods based on their race and, in many instances, urging Black homebuyers to avoid moving into neighborhoods that were predominantly white. Join the conversation!
Rumor had it that the famed designer did an interview with The Oprah Winfrey Show, revealing that if he’d known that blacks were wearing his clothes, he would have never designed them. Soon after, the designer’s representatives sent out notices trying to put an end to the myth, stating that he’d never been on Oprah’s show and that the accusations were false and defamatory. But proponents of the accusations continued to boycott Hilfiger and his designs – even after his visit to Oprah to clear up the rumors. Join the converstation!
When Jay Z speaks, the world listens. This was the case in 2006 when Mr. Carter accused the luxury brand of being racist due to comments made by Cristal managing director Fredric Rouzaud. Rouzaud inferred that Cristal’s association with the flashy hip-hop lifestyle could be detrimental to the brand. Jigga responded, telling the Associated Press that he viewed the comments as “racist” and will “no longer support any of their products.” Join the conversation!
In the wake of the death of 46-year-old African-American George Floyd, several historical figures across the US and Europe who were hitherto revered in history have been called out for who they really were – racist enslavers and slave traders. And now, it seems even institutions carrying the names of racist persona will not be tolerated. The latest big name to be contested is that of Yale University founder Elihu Yale who has not only been revealed to be a slave owner but also a slave trader, despite the Britannica Encyclopedia terming his as a “philanthropist”. Join the conversation!
A genealogical association has launched a new website detailing the family histories of slaves who were sold to keep Catholic-run Georgetown University from bankruptcy in the 1800s.
American Ancestors announced the new GU272 Memory Project website on Wednesday (June 19), the anniversary of Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when some American slaves learned they had been freed.
Twenty-seven years earlier, a document dated June 19, 1838, showed that Maryland Jesuit priests sold 272 slaves to the owners of Louisiana plantations. The Jesuits used the proceeds to benefit then-Georgetown College. Join the converstation!
The lingering aftermaths of slavery have made it hard for an average person from the West to view black people the same way regarding societal misconceptions. This is mostly indicting for black women in the West. Most of the time, black women in society have had to stand firm for themselves in a society that has made them seem like second-class citizens despite being shipped several thousand miles from their homes in Africa.
Let us examine why it’s hard for people of the West to see black women for the vital qualities they possess, rather than tying them down to a negative stereotype.
Due to the disadvantages of being colored, black women have had to be defensive about their stance as citizens in the West. This naturally gave them a bold and firm stance in society. This is not to say that every black woman wants to dominate. It only indicates their willingness to stand up to societal challenges and take care of their families and loved ones. An average black woman is hardworking and ever-ready to surmount the challenges presented by society.
They achieve these milestones knowing fully well that opportunities are hard to come by for women of color. That is the strength of a black woman in the West. An average black woman is beautiful and elegant in all she does. She commands reverence wherever she enters because there is nothing as beautiful as black. This is why the primary aura of a black woman is perceived to be that of beauty and strength with relevance in everything they do.
The misconception of black women in Africa has been chiefly that of a societal culture that women are the weaker sex. Women in Africa have had to struggle to bridge the gap that culture has created regarding how they’re treated. The culture in some parts of Africa believes that a woman’s primary role is domestic duties and getting married to a man when the time is right. In trying to overturn these challenges, women are often tagged stubborn and arrogant. This is often not true.
Due to these cultural challenges, men are often considered the breadwinners of most families, while women have to submit to them in every way. Breaking the barrier of cultural stereotypes is why most women are misunderstood in Africa.
Black women in the West are often expressive with their feelings. In an environment set up to keep them at a disadvantage, black women have learned to be defensive and protective of everything concerning them. The term “Angry Black Woman” has been used now and then when black women try to push back at the injustice of Western society. This misconception has eaten deep into the West that even some black communities have started buying into it.
Another misconception is the sexuality of black women in the West. Beautiful black women in society are not afraid to express their sexuality and that they’re beautiful and should be admired and desired. This does not in any way mean that they are sexually promiscuous.
A survey made by 435 undergraduates from a Northeastern university in the US showed that black women are more likely to be single mothers than their white counterparts. This indicated the level of stereotype about black women in Western society, a very worrying trend.
It has to be said the common perception about why black women have negative stereotypes anywhere globally has to do with cultural trends and dynamism. There only difference between the African and Western situations is that while black women in the West have to battle a society that doesn’t view them as entirely part of their society; black women in Africa fight for the right to be recognized as significant role players in the same way men are.
In summary, black women deserve to be seen for what they are; strong, beautiful, and resilient enough to overcome societal challenges.