Latest news with #Black
Time of India
an hour ago
- General
- Time of India
Harvard settles lawsuit over enslaved ancestor images
Harvard University (File photo) NEW YORK: Harvard University has agreed to settle a deeply emotional dispute over who has the rights to images of enslaved Africans taken in 1850 by a professor who sought to support a racist theory. The daguerrotypes, a precursor to modern photographs, are considered to be the earliest known images of Black American slaves, who were posed nude and semi-nude "without consent, dignity or compensation," a 2019 lawsuit stated. The Cambridge institution has agreed to relinquish the images and has offered plaintiff Tamara Lanier a confidential monetary settlement. Lanier says she is a descendant of a slave known only by his first name, Renty, who was photographed nude, and his daughter Delia, who was photographed nude from the waist up, in images commissioned by Harvard biologist Louis Agassiz as supposed evidence of Black inferiority. The images were taken in South Carolina, and Lanier is advocating for them to be transferred to the International African American Museum there. Lanier accused the university of using them for advertising and commercial purposes, and denounced the use of Renty's image on a cover of a $40 anthropology book it published in 2017. "Since Black Americans were first brought to this country in chains, our pain and trauma have been exploited for capitalistic gain," said Lanier. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like IIMK Strategic Management IIMK ASMP Apply Now Undo Lanier claimed rights to the images 15 years ago, but Harvard has long-disputed the claim that she is Renty's great-great-great-granddaughter. "As descendants of slaves, familial history and well-documented genealogy are a luxury that many Black Americans do not have," Lanier said, who relied on her family's oral history to determine the connection in lineage. In a statement on the settlement, Harvard said they have "long been eager" to steward "the daguerrotypes in a responsible manner." In his time Agassiz, a Swiss-born biologist, was a renowned scientist who worked in geology. But Lanier's attorney Ben Crump said Agassiz also supported polygenism, which was "used to justify both the ongoing enslavement of Black people prior to the Civil War and their segregation afterward." The daguerrotypes were in the possession of Harvard's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology to date. "Harvard played a role in the darkest chapter in American history," Lanier said. "This is a small step in the right direction towards fully acknowledging that history and working to rectify it." The stain of Agassiz's work has been controversial elsewhere, too. He had an elementary school named after him near Harvard -- but local residents successfully demanded the name be changed to honor a long-serving Black principal Maria Louise Baldwin in 2002, citing his scientific racism.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
- Yahoo
Harvard settles lawsuit over enslaved ancestor images
Harvard University has agreed to settle a deeply emotional dispute over who has the rights to images of enslaved Africans taken in 1850 by a professor who sought to support a racist theory. The daguerrotypes, a precursor to modern photographs, are considered to be the earliest known images of Black American slaves, who were posed nude and semi-nude "without consent, dignity or compensation," a 2019 lawsuit stated. The Cambridge institution has agreed to relinquish the images and has offered plaintiff Tamara Lanier a confidential monetary settlement. Lanier says she is a descendant of a slave known only by his first name, Renty, who was photographed nude, and his daughter Delia, who was photographed nude from the waist up, in images commissioned by Harvard biologist Louis Agassiz as supposed evidence of Black inferiority. The images were taken in South Carolina, and Lanier is advocating for them to be transferred to the International African American Museum there. Lanier accused the university of using them for advertising and commercial purposes, and denounced the use of Renty's image on a cover of a $40 anthropology book it published in 2017. "Since Black Americans were first brought to this country in chains, our pain and trauma have been exploited for capitalistic gain," said Lanier. Lanier claimed rights to the images 15 years ago, but Harvard has long-disputed the claim that she is Renty's great-great-great-granddaughter. "As descendants of slaves, familial history and well-documented genealogy are a luxury that many Black Americans do not have," Lanier said, who relied on her family's oral history to determine the connection in lineage. In a statement on the settlement, Harvard said they have "long been eager" to steward "the daguerrotypes in a responsible manner." In his time Agassiz, a Swiss-born biologist, was a renowned scientist who worked in geology. But Lanier's attorney Ben Crump said Agassiz also supported polygenism, which was "used to justify both the ongoing enslavement of Black people prior to the Civil War and their segregation afterward." The daguerrotypes were in the possession of Harvard's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology to date. "Harvard played a role in the darkest chapter in American history," Lanier said. "This is a small step in the right direction towards fully acknowledging that history and working to rectify it." The stain of Agassiz's work has been controversial elsewhere, too. He had an elementary school named after him near Harvard -- but local residents successfully demanded the name be changed to honor a long-serving Black principal Maria Louise Baldwin in 2002, citing his scientific racism. arb/gl/sla/jgc
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Historic Deerfield to host Juneteenth Concert
DEERFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Historic Deerfield is hosting a Juneteenth Concert, featuring award-winning musician Jake Blount. Blount is a critically acclaimed interpreter of black folk music, whose work draws on centuries of African-American musical traditions. The concert will take place at the Deerfield Community Center, located at 16 Memorial Street, on June 19 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Springfield remembers upcoming 14th anniversary of EF-3 tornado This concert serves as part of Historic Deerfield's ongoing efforts to uplift and honor African-American history through programs and partnerships within the community. 'We are honored to welcome Jake Blount for this year's Juneteenth celebration,' said John Davis, President of Historic Deerfield. 'His music speaks to the deep historical roots and enduring legacy of Black artistry in America. This concert is not only a commemoration of emancipation, but also an extension of our commitment to telling a fuller American story, a goal we've pursued through projects like the Witness Stones Project, which honors the lives of enslaved individuals in Deerfield's past.' Tickets are available now, costing $25 for adults and $10 for children ages five to 17. Tickets cost $15 for Historic Deerfield members. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
AsiaOne
2 hours ago
- General
- AsiaOne
Harvard to relinquish slave photos to resolve descendant's lawsuit, World News
BOSTON — Harvard University has agreed to give up ownership of photos of an enslaved father and his daughter who were forced to be photographed in 1850 for a racist study by a professor trying to prove the inferiority of Black people to resolve a lawsuit by one of their descendants. The settlement was announced on Wednesday (May 28) by the legal team representing Tamara Lanier, who had waged a six-year legal battle over what she alleged was its wrongful claim of ownership over photos that were taken without her ancestors' consent. The photos will not go to Lanier as part of the settlement, but instead will be turned over along with pictures of five other enslaved people to the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. "Harvard played a role in the darkest chapter in American history," Lanier said in a statement. "This is a small step in the right direction towards fully acknowledging that history and working to rectify it." Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Harvard said it had long been eager to place the photos with another public institution "to put them in the appropriate context and increase access to them for all Americans". "This settlement now allows us to move forward towards that goal," the school said. The settlement comes as Harvard fights in court against efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to terminate billions of dollars in grant funding and end its ability to enrol foreign students. The lawsuit concerned images depicting Renty Taylor and his daughter Delia, slaves on a South Carolina plantation who were forced to disrobe for photos taken for a racist study by Harvard Professor Louis Agassiz. The photos were being kept at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology on Harvard's campus when Lanier sued in 2019. A judge in Massachusetts initially dismissed the case. But the state's highest court revived it in 2022, saying she had plausibly alleged Harvard was negligent and recklessly caused her to suffer emotional distress. Justice Scott Kafker, writing for the court, said Harvard "cavalierly" dismissed Lanier's claims of an ancestral link and disregarded her requests for information about how it was using the pictures, including when the school used Renty Taylor's image on a book cover. He called the pictures' creation "horrific" and said Harvard had "responsibilities to the descendants of the individuals coerced into having their half-naked images captured in the daguerreotypes". [[nid:718353]]
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
DEI boycott organizer calls for protests against Dollar General
A Georgia pastor who previously called for a 'full Target boycott' over the company's decision to halt its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts has now called for protests against Dollar General, according to USA Today. 'Target is canceled since they have betrayed and walked away from our community, and we've gone on from there,' the Rev. Jamal Bryant said, per USA Today. 'We're done with Target, and then our next focus will be around Dollar General.' According to USA Today, Bryant's TargetFast group is launching a protest targeting Dollar General in which the company's email account and phone lines will be swamped alongside a social media campaign. 'Like other corporations, Dollar General has bowed to pressure from the Trump administration and rolled back their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives,' Bryant said, per USA Today. 'Dollar General also needs to be held accountable for failing to invest in the very Black and low-income communities that make up the backbone of their customer base. Bryant previously stated that the goal of his Target boycott was to persuade the corporation to reinstate policies aimed at promoting racial equity, including supporting career development for Black employees and increasing the use of Black-owned brands and businesses. 'Target is absolutely dedicated to fostering inclusivity for everyone – our team members, our guests and our supply partners. Today, we are proud of the progress we've made since 2020 and believe it has allowed us to better serve the needs of our customers,' a spokesperson for Target said in an emailed statement to The Hill. The Hill has reached out to Dollar General for comment and Bryant for further comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
