Harvard University’s early riches were directly linked to the island’s enslaved labor, so Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called for the university to provide proportionate reparations to Antigua and Barbuda. His remarks came after Harvard representatives visited the campus to investigate its connections to slavery and discuss potential reparative justice measures.
In an interview with a local radio station, Browne blasted Harvard’s earlier efforts as insufficient, pointing out that symbolic actions like short-term courses don’t adequately address the historical injustices associated with the institution’s founding.
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PM Browne noted, “Harvard University, particularly its Law School, was established with funding from slavery on Antigua’s plantations,” Browne said. “Our ancestors worked for centuries without pay, and their labor fueled Harvard’s early development. It’s time for them to acknowledge this with meaningful action.”
Browne pointed out that the Royall family, whose fortune originated from using slave labor on Antiguan plantations, contributed to the funding of Harvard’s Law School. He suggested several ways to make reparations, such as investing in the University of the West Indies (UWI), providing funds for community initiatives, and offering scholarships to descendants of enslaved people.
To assist Harvard in tracking down the descendants of enslaved people connected to the Royall family’s plantations, a local group of members from UWI and the National Archives has been formed. Browne said he hoped the study would help guide just and practical reparations.
Addressing the wider ramifications of reparations, the prime minister said that it was more about justice and equality than charity. He emphasized how crucial it is to hold organizations responsible for their past involvement in slavery and make sure they help to right those wrongs.
He remarked, “We are not asking for favors. We are seeking justice for the people whose suffering built Harvard into what it is today.”
By addressing historical injustices and promoting chances for social and economic advancement, Browne’s appeal is consistent with Antigua and Barbuda’s larger worldwide campaign for reparatory justice.
