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Confronting History: Why Slavery Disclosure Research is Essential for Modern Institutions

The legacy of slavery is woven into the fabric of many institutions and corporations despite its official abolition. These connections often manifest in the form of donations, investments, or labor that built the foundations of these entities dating back to the 1800s. For example, research has shown that at least 93 of the 106 institutions studied in a 2022 report by the Universities Studying Slavery (USS) consortium had financial or material ties to slavery. These ties ranged from donations from enslavers to investments in the slave trade.

Freedom House Museum, which opened in 2022, resides in the Franklin and Armfield Office at 1315 Duke Street in Alexandria’s Old Town. Prior to the Civil War, the office was part of a complex dedicated to trafficking Black men, women, and children into the institution of slavery.
Freedom House Museum, which opened in 2022, resides in the Franklin and Armfield Office at 1315 Duke Street in Alexandria’s Old Town. Prior to the Civil War, the office was part of a complex dedicated to trafficking Black men, women, and children into the institution of slavery.In recent years, growing attention has been placed on identifying and addressing these historical connections, an essential exercise for grasping the deep-rooted impact that this brutal institution has had on society. Increasingly, federal and state bodies have been passing legislation that mandates institutions disclose their historical ties to slavery. For example, Congress has requested the top ten U.S. banks, top five U.S. property and casualty insurance companies, and top five U.S. life insurance companies to reveal any connections to chattel slavery. Similarly, major cities are enacting ordinances requiring companies that provide insurance, financial services, or textiles to the city to file affidavits disclosing such ties with the city administrator.For those businesses seeking to understand these connections, embrace transparency, and take meaningful steps toward restorative justice, slavery disclosure research has become a not just a critical tool, but the law.


Untangling & Understanding Historical Connections to Slavery

Sadly, many universities, corporations, and government institutions in the United States and beyond have histories tied to the transatlantic slave trade. However, this history is often hidden deep in long forgotten records or lost to time. Slavery disclosure research is a specialized area that delves into the historical records of institutions and corporations to uncover these connections.

This research can be complex and requires extensive expertise in archival research, historical analysis, and legal frameworks. The process often involves tracing financial records, land deeds, and other documentation to reveal connections that have been obscured or forgotten over time. In other cases, it requires deep study of wills and inventories, genealogy charts, or other familial records of wealthy landowners who may have owned slaves or made donations to institutions from businesses that profited from slavery.

As a leading provider of slavery disclosure research, HAI has worked with a wide range of institutions, from universities to law firms, to uncover and address their historical ties to slavery. Our expertise in conducting thorough and accurate research ensures that clients receive a comprehensive understanding of their past, allowing them to make informed decisions about reparative actions.

Boston’s Park Square was home to the Emancipation Memorial beginning in 1879. In 2020, the Boston Arts Commission voted to remove the memorial. Boston’s former Mayor Marty Walsh said, “… it’s clear that residents and visitors to Boston have been uncomfortable with this statue and its reductive representation of the Black man’s role in the abolitionist movement.”
Boston’s Park Square was home to the Emancipation Memorial beginning in 1879. In 2020, the Boston Arts Commission voted to remove the memorial. Boston’s former Mayor Marty Walsh said, “… it’s clear that residents and visitors to Boston have been uncomfortable with this statue and its reductive representation of the Black man’s role in the abolitionist movement.”Consider, for example, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). In 2021, the university began research on its historical ties to enslavement through the 1807 Commission on Slavery and Racism in conjunction with the HAI team (UMB News). The report, released this past April, reveals the direct involvement of figures honored on campus buildings like John Beale Davidge, George Gray, and former Maryland Gov. John Eager Howard in slavery and racist ideologies.The findings underscore the university’s commitment to equality, and the importance of accountability in achieving meaningful change. Because, after all, slavery disclosure research is not merely about reputation management; it is about ethical accountability.By acknowledging their historical ties to slavery and taking concrete steps to implement changes that foster dialogue and inclusivity, corporations can align their values with the growing demand for social responsibility.

Conclusion

The importance of slavery disclosure research cannot be overstated. As institutions and corporations seek to reckon with their historical ties to slavery, this research provides the foundation for meaningful change. By confronting these connections, institutions can foster a deeper understanding of their histories and work to dismantle the lingering effects of slavery on modern society.

If your institution or corporation is interested in learning more, we’re here to help. With a proven track record in slavery disclosure research, HAI offers the expertise needed to navigate this complex and important process. Read a case study here.