Daily News Lesson

SHOW ALL

May 2, 2022, 4:36 p.m.

Harvard University details its ties to slavery and promises a reckoning

Summary

America’s oldest institution of higher education, Harvard University, is beginning to come to terms with its own history and role in slavery. The school is out with a new report detailing its extensive entanglement and legacy. Tomiko Brown-Nagin, dean of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, joins Jeffrey Brown to discuss.

Five Facts

  • Why have Harvard's ties to slavery recently come to light?
  • Who has written a book about Harvard's ties to slavery?
  • What are some of Harvard's ties to slavery
  • What are some of the actions Harvard has proposed to address past history with slavery?
  • How else might Harvard address its former ties to slavery, according to this piece?

Focus Questions

How do you think institutions such as universities should address their histories of benefiting from the work of slaves? Media literacy: Who else would you want to hear from to better understand this story?

For More

Harvard drops standardized test requirement through 2026

A pair of rowers are seen in the Charles River as Harvard University is reflected in the water in Cambridge
A pair of rowers are seen in the Charles River as Harvard University is reflected in the water in Cambridge, Massachusetts November 16, 2012. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: EDUCATION) - TM3E8BG1EYO01
A pair of rowers are seen in the Charles River as Harvard University is reflected in the water in Cambridge, Massachusetts November 16, 2012. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources. Sign up for NewsHour Classroom’s ready-to-go Daily News Lessons delivered to your inbox each morning.

Links

TRANSCRIPT

Recent Daily News Lessons

future

Daily News Lesson

National Youth Poet Laureate Daniel Umemezie on using his words to bridge worlds

Learn about a National Youth Poet Laureate committed to inspiring other young creatives

Screenshot 2026-07-16 at 10.42.10 AM

Daily News Lesson

'Post-literate age': Why fewer Americans are reading for pleasure

Discuss why reading habits have changed among students, with growing concerns that this notable decline may extend to the general population

Screenshot 2026-07-15 at 10.46.29 AM

Daily News Lesson

Ousted Election Assistance Commission chair on Trump's effort to control voting

Recent shifts in the function of the federal bipartisan agency have sparked debate over the reliability of voting polls this coming election

outbreak

Daily News Lesson

What we know about the cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to produce

Learn about the current cyclosporiasis outbreak is presenting challenges for public health experts nationwide

SUPPORTED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:

PBS News Hour Classroom

Copyright © 2025 News Hour Production LLC. All Rights Reserved

Illustrations by Annamaria Ward