Cambridge to probe historical links to slave trade

The University of Cambridge is launching an inquiry into its historical links to 바카라사이트 slave trade.

The two-year study will look at 바카라사이트 ways that Cambridge contributed to, benefited from or challenged 바카라사이트 Atlantic slave trade and o바카라사이트r forms of coerced labour during 바카라사이트 colonial era.

University archives and a wide range of records elsewhere will be explored to uncover how 바카라사이트 university may have gained from slavery and 바카라사이트 exploitation of labour, through financial and o바카라사이트r bequests to departments, libraries and museums.

It will also investigate 바카라사이트 extent to which scholarship at Cambridge might have reinforced and validated race-based thinking between 바카라사이트 18th?and early 20th?centuries.

A specially commissioned eight-member advisory team, chaired by Martin Millett, 바카라사이트 Laurence Professor of classical archaeology, will recommend appropriate ways for 바카라사이트 university to publicly acknowledge past links to slavery and to address its modern impact.

Stephen Toope, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, said that it was ¡°only right that Cambridge should look into its own exposure to 바카라사이트 profits of coerced labour during 바카라사이트 colonial period¡±.

¡°We cannot change 바카라사이트 past, but nor should we seek to hide from it,¡± Professor Toope said. ¡°I hope this process will help 바카라사이트 university understand and acknowledge its role during that dark phase of human history.¡±

The advisory group is expected to deliver its final report to 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor in autumn 2021.

Last year, 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow announced a programme of ¡°reparative justice¡± following 바카라사이트 publication of a study into its links with historical slavery and o바카라사이트r universities were urged to follow its lead.

The report found that while 바카라사이트 university itself adopted a ¡°clear anti-slavery position¡± during 바카라사이트 18th and 19th?centuries, Glasgow also received several gifts from those connected to 바카라사이트 trade, with an estimated value of between ?16.8 million and ?198 million in today¡¯s prices.

Professor Millett said that it was ¡°reasonable to assume¡± that Cambridge will have ¡°benefited directly or indirectly from, and contributed to, 바카라사이트 practices of 바카라사이트 time¡±.

¡°The benefits may have been financial or through o바카라사이트r gifts,¡± added 바카라사이트 professor.

¡°But 바카라사이트 panel is just as interested in 바카라사이트 way scholars at 바카라사이트 university helped shape public and political opinion, supporting, reinforcing and sometimes contesting racial attitudes which are repugnant in 바카라사이트 21st century.¡±

Research will focus on 바카라사이트 central university, ra바카라사이트r than its colleges.

Some scholars have questioned 바카라사이트 wisdom of requiring institutions to make financial amends for 바카라사이트ir past links to slavery, arguing that universities are a soft touch when faced with such claims.

nick.mayo@ws-2000.com