A Legacy Revealed: Recent Episodes
The Harvard Crimson
“A Legacy Revealed” is a podcast that dives into the roles that slavery and discrimination have played in shaping Harvard University over its 400 year-long history. Hosted by Raquel Coronell Uribe and Six Yu, this 6-part series will invite experts from a variety of fields to answer some of the most compelling questions surrounding Harvard’s historical legacy, as well as its present day ramifications. All episodes available May 1st. Presented by the Harvard Crimson. Produced and edited by Lara Dada, Zing Gee, and Thomas Maisonneuve. Podcast art by Madison Shirazi. Music by Dash Chin.
In the final episode of A Legacy Revealed we delve into the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard lawsuit, which seeks to end race-conscious admissions at Harvard. The group alleges Harvard discriminates against Asian Americans in its admissions process. Judges have sided with Harvard on two occasions, but now SFFA has filed the case with the Supreme Court. Now, the future of affirmative action might be at stake.
Further Information:
“Harvard Won a Key Affirmative Action Battle. But the War’s Not Over.” by Anemona Hartocollis
The Affirmative Action Puzzle: A Living History from Reconstruction to Today by Melvin I. Urofsky
“How SFFA Is Trying to Convince SCOTUS To Hear Its Suit Against Harvard” by Vivi E. Lu and Dekyi T. Tsotsong
In the early 20th century, Harvard boasted one of the highest undergraduate enrollment numbers of any university in the U.S. and England. This all changed after an influx of Jewish immigrants settled in Manhattan. What happened?
We delve into the antisemitic roots of the modern day admissions process.
Further Information:
The Chosen: The Hidden History of Admission and Exclusion at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton by Jerome Karabel
When Louis Agassiz was a professor at Harvard promoting the theory of polygenism, he commissioned a North Carolina daguerreotypist to take pictures of enslaved, African-born people. Almost 200 years later, Harvard still has these daguerreotypes in their museum archives.
Tamara Lanier says she is a descendant of Renty and Delia, two of the subjects of the daguerreotypes. She has sued Harvard, claiming she is the rightful owner of the images.
This is one of several ethical questions the Peabody has faced in recent years. We delve into the Lanier v. Harvard case, and we explore a letter the Association of American Indian Affairs sent Harvard, claiming they are inadequately complying with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Further Information:
“Five Generations of Renty” by Maya H. McDougall and Garrett W. O’Brien
“Who Should Own Photos of Slaves? The Descendants, not Harvard, a Lawsuit Says” by Anemona Hartocollis
“Native American Nonprofit Accuses Harvard of Violating Federal Graves Protection and Repatriation Act” by Oliver L. Riskin-Kutz
“Peabody Museum Apologizes For Practices Around Native American Cultural Objects, Announces Policy Changes” by Oliver L. Riskin-Kutz
“Completing the Journey: A Graphic Narrative about NAGPRA and Repatriation” by Sonya Atalay and Jen Shannon
Louis Agassiz was a professor at Harvard University in the 19th century. He originally became famous for his work proving ice ages existed. But when he arrived to teach at Harvard, his work took a turn and he began promoting the idea of polygenism — a theory used to justify racism.
In this episode, we delve into how the Harvard name and platform allowed pseudoscience to spread, and the legacy that Louis Agassiz left on our campus to this day.
Further information:
- “Louis Agassiz, Under a Microscope” by Saima S. Iqbal
- Louis Agassiz: Creator of American Science by Cristoph Irmscher
- Black Lives Matter - Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology
In recent years, Harvard has faced increased pressure from activist groups to divest from the prison industrial complex. These calls come from the small percentage of the school’s $41.9 billion endowment that’s disclosed to the public.
We look at the implications of prison divestment and why Harvard has yet to divest.
Further Information
“Harvard and Divestment Advocates Disagree Over How Much The University Puts Into Private Prisons. Here’s Why” by Ellen M. Burstein and Camille G. Caldera
13th by Ava DuVernay
Harvard’s Endowment
Cash-strapped in the 1700s, Harvard served as the first institutional bank in New England, handing out loans in a society that was heavily entwined with the Caribbean slave economy.
In our first episode, we explore the university’s ties slavery, answering questions like how many Harvard affiliates were slaveowners? In what ways did Harvard benefit financially from the Atlantic Slave Trade? And what happened on campus during the abolitionist movement?
Further Information:
Harvard and Slavery: Seeking a Forgotten Historyby Sven Beckert, Katherine Stevens, and the students of the Harvard and Slavery Research Seminar
Ebony and Ivy: Race, Slavery, and the Troubled History of America’s Universitiesby Craig Steven Wilder
Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative
“A Legacy Revealed” is a podcast that dives into the roles that slavery and discrimination have played in shaping Harvard University over its 400 year-long history. Hosted by Raquel Coronell Uribe and Six Yu, this 6-part series will invite experts from a variety of fields to answer some of the most compelling questions surrounding Harvard’s historical legacy, as well as its present day ramifications. All episodes available May 1st. Presented by the Harvard Crimson. Produced and edited by Lara Dada, Zing Gee, and Thomas Maisonneuve. Podcast art by Madison Shirazi. Music by Dash Chin.