Harvard Faces Scrutiny Over Handling of Enslavement Research Team

CAMBRIDGE, MA — June 23, 2025 Harvard University is facing allegations of sidelining researchers who uncovered extensive links between the university’s early benefactors and slavery. Richard J. Cellini, the former director of a Harvard-funded effort to trace descendants of enslaved people tied to the institution, claims he and his team were abruptly dismissed in January 2025 after revealing far more connections than expected.

The team identified nearly 900 individuals enslaved by Harvard faculty and donors, and traced about 500 living descendants—far exceeding early estimates. According to Cellini, university officials, including Vice-Provost Sara Bleich, warned that each new discovery created “guilt and shame for Harvard” and could lead to significant reputational and financial exposure.

Harvard denies the claims, attributing the dismissals to organizational restructuring and asserting that its commitment to investigating its historical ties to slavery remains intact. The university has since contracted the Boston-based nonprofit American Ancestors to continue the genealogical work.

This controversy comes three years after Harvard pledged $100 million toward a long-term initiative to confront its entanglement with slavery, which includes identifying descendants, developing partnerships, and funding reparative projects. Critics argue the university has moved too slowly and involved too few descendant voices in the process.

While Harvard insists the project is ongoing and has entered a new phase of collaboration and outreach, the allegations have reignited questions about institutional accountability and transparency in addressing historical injustices.

*Sources:
*https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jun/21/harvard-slavery-decendants-of-the-enslaved