American Schools with Historical Ties to Slavery Consider Reparations
2020-01-05
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1American colleges and universities are increasingly discussing the idea of reparations linked to their historical ties to slavery.
2Until now, schools have created monuments, changed building names and issued public apologies - instead of providing money.
3But Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and two other colleges recently announced financial commitments to people whose ancestors were slaves.
4The year 2019 marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first slave, in what is now the American state of Virginia.
5The United States has been discussing reparations since slavery officially ended in 1865.
6But there is increasing attention to the slave economy wealth of American colleges and universities.
7Jeffrey Clinton is a student at the University of Buffalo in New York.
8He said he thinks colleges should admit to their historical ties to slavery.
9But he also thinks the federal government should take the lead on an issue that reaches well beyond higher education.
10"It doesn't have to be trillions of dollars ... but at least address the inequities and attack the racial wealth gap between African Americans and white Americans and really everybody else, because this is an American-made institution.
11We didn't immigrate here," said Clinton, whose ancestors were slaves.
12A majority of Georgetown undergraduate students voted in April to pay an additional $27 a semester as a "Reconciliation Contribution."
13The money would support projects in poor communities where some descendants of slaves sold in 1838 live today.
14The 272 slaves were sold to help pay Georgetown's debts.
15Georgetown President John DeGioia announced a university-led reparations effort in October.
16His goal is to raise about $400,000 from donors to support projects like health clinics and schools in those same communities.
17At least 56 universities have joined a University of Virginia-led group called Universities Studying Slavery.
18The schools aim to explore their ties to slavery and share research and suggestions for how to settle the past wrongdoing.
19In recent years, some schools, like Yale University, have removed the names of slavery supporters from buildings.
20New monuments have gone up at other places, including Brown University's Slavery Memorial sculpture and the University of Virginia's Memorial to Enslaved Laborers, which is still being built.
21In September, Virginia Theological Seminary announced a $1.7 million fund in recognition of slaves who worked there.
22It said the money would be used to support African American clergy in the Episcopal church and programs that promote justice and inclusion.
23The Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey followed with a $27.6 million fund, after a historical study found that some of its creators used slave labor.
24Its president, M. Craig Barnes, said the seminary would not avoid addressing difficult truths about its history.
25In an October letter to Harvard University's president, Antigua and Barbuda's prime minister noted the developments at Georgetown and the seminaries.
26Gaston Brown asked the school to consider how it could amend for the oppression of Antiguan slaves by a slave owner whose gift supported a law professorship in 1815.
27Harvard's president answered with a promise that the school would explore its historical ties to slavery.
28People have also urged the University of Buffalo to consider the beliefs and actions of its founder, Millard Fillmore.
29As America's 13th president, Fillmore signed the Fugitive Slave Act to help slave owners reclaim escaped slaves.
30Students at the University of Buffalo have not officially raised the idea of reparations, a school spokesman told The Associated Press.
31But students did lead a discussion on the issue as part of Black Solidarity Week last month.
32Few Americans support reparations.
33A recent public opinion study showed that only 29 percent of those questioned said the government should pay reparations to descendants of enslaved black people.
34University of Buffalo associate professor Keith Griffler specializes in African and African American studies.
35He said he sees the beginning of a movement at schools of higher learning.
36Griffler said, "The conversations, just acknowledging these kinds of things...I think would go a long way toward making students feel that at least their voices are being heard."
37I'm Caty Weaver.
38And I'm Ashley Thompson.
1American colleges and universities are increasingly discussing the idea of reparations linked to their historical ties to slavery. 2Until now, schools have created monuments, changed building names and issued public apologies - instead of providing money. 3But Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and two other colleges recently announced financial commitments to people whose ancestors were slaves. 4The year 2019 marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first slave, in what is now the American state of Virginia. The United States has been discussing reparations since slavery officially ended in 1865. 5But there is increasing attention to the slave economy wealth of American colleges and universities. 6Jeffrey Clinton is a student at the University of Buffalo in New York. He said he thinks colleges should admit to their historical ties to slavery. But he also thinks the federal government should take the lead on an issue that reaches well beyond higher education. 7"It doesn't have to be trillions of dollars ... but at least address the inequities and attack the racial wealth gap between African Americans and white Americans and really everybody else, because this is an American-made institution. We didn't immigrate here," said Clinton, whose ancestors were slaves. 8A majority of Georgetown undergraduate students voted in April to pay an additional $27 a semester as a "Reconciliation Contribution." The money would support projects in poor communities where some descendants of slaves sold in 1838 live today. The 272 slaves were sold to help pay Georgetown's debts. 9Georgetown President John DeGioia announced a university-led reparations effort in October. His goal is to raise about $400,000 from donors to support projects like health clinics and schools in those same communities. 10At least 56 universities have joined a University of Virginia-led group called Universities Studying Slavery. The schools aim to explore their ties to slavery and share research and suggestions for how to settle the past wrongdoing. 11In recent years, some schools, like Yale University, have removed the names of slavery supporters from buildings. New monuments have gone up at other places, including Brown University's Slavery Memorial sculpture and the University of Virginia's Memorial to Enslaved Laborers, which is still being built. 12In September, Virginia Theological Seminary announced a $1.7 million fund in recognition of slaves who worked there. It said the money would be used to support African American clergy in the Episcopal church and programs that promote justice and inclusion. 13The Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey followed with a $27.6 million fund, after a historical study found that some of its creators used slave labor. Its president, M. Craig Barnes, said the seminary would not avoid addressing difficult truths about its history. 14In an October letter to Harvard University's president, Antigua and Barbuda's prime minister noted the developments at Georgetown and the seminaries. Gaston Brown asked the school to consider how it could amend for the oppression of Antiguan slaves by a slave owner whose gift supported a law professorship in 1815. 15Harvard's president answered with a promise that the school would explore its historical ties to slavery. 16People have also urged the University of Buffalo to consider the beliefs and actions of its founder, Millard Fillmore. As America's 13th president, Fillmore signed the Fugitive Slave Act to help slave owners reclaim escaped slaves. 17Students at the University of Buffalo have not officially raised the idea of reparations, a school spokesman told The Associated Press. But students did lead a discussion on the issue as part of Black Solidarity Week last month. 18Few Americans support reparations. A recent public opinion study showed that only 29 percent of those questioned said the government should pay reparations to descendants of enslaved black people. 19University of Buffalo associate professor Keith Griffler specializes in African and African American studies. He said he sees the beginning of a movement at schools of higher learning. 20Griffler said, "The conversations, just acknowledging these kinds of things...I think would go a long way toward making students feel that at least their voices are being heard." 21I'm Caty Weaver. 22And I'm Ashley Thompson. 23The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 24__________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26reparations - n. money that a country or group that loses a war pays because of the damage, injury, deaths, etc., it has caused 27monument - n. a building, statue, etc., that honors a person or event 28commitment - n. a promise to do or give something 29address - v. to give attention to (something) 30inequity - n. lack of fairness 31gap - n. a difference between two people, groups, or things 32institution - n. a custom, practice, or law that is accepted and used by many people 33undergraduate - adj. used to describe student at a college or university who has not yet earned a degree 34reconciliation - n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement 35descendant - n. someone who is related to a person or group of people who lived in the past 36sculpture - n. a piece of art that is made by carving or molding clay, stone, metal, etc. 37fund - n. an amount of money that is used for a special purpose 38conversation - n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people : the act of talking in an informal way 39acknowledge - v. to say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something)