Yale University Addresses Its Slavery-Linked History
Yale University’s recent apology has brought to light a dark chapter in the institution’s history. As you delve into this complex issue, you’ll discover how Elihu Yale’s involvement in the slave trade has prompted a long-overdue reckoning. The prestigious university’s acknowledgment of its namesake’s troubling past raises important questions about institutional responsibility and the legacy of colonialism. In this article, you’ll explore the reasons behind Yale’s apology, the historical context surrounding Elihu Yale’s actions, and the implications for both the university and India. Prepare to confront uncomfortable truths and examine the ongoing impact of historical injustices in today’s world.
Elihu Yale: The Man Behind the University’s Name
Born in Boston in 1649, Elihu Yale spent his formative years in England before embarking on a journey that would shape his legacy. In 1672, he arrived in Madras (now Chennai), India, as an employee of the powerful East India Company. Rising through the ranks, Yale became the acting president in 1684 and then served as the president from 1687 to 1692, expanding the company’s commercial interests in the region.
During his tenure with the East India Company, Yale amassed a substantial fortune estimated at £200,000, primarily through the trade of diamonds and other precious goods from India. However, recent historical evidence and research findings led by Yale Historian David Blight has shed light on the darker aspects of Yale’s wealth accumulation, revealing his active involvement in the Indian Ocean slave trade. As governor, Yale enforced rules mandating a minimum of 10 slaves on every outbound European ship from Fort St. George, with records showing over 665 slaves exported in a single month in 1687.
After retiring from the East India Company in 1699, Yale settled in London, where he became a philanthropist. In 1713, he donated 32 books to the Collegiate School of Connecticut, followed by a more significant contribution of goods, books, and a portrait of King George I in 1718. An amount of Euro 1162 was also donated by him. In recognition of his generosity, the institution was renamed Yale College, establishing a tradition of honouring its greatest benefactor. Though Yale’s early biographers downplayed or ignored his involvement in the slave trade, his name remains inextricably linked to the prestigious university that bears it.
Yale’s Role as Governor of Madras for the British East India Company
Elihu Yale served as the governor-president of the British East India Company’s settlement in Madras (now Chennai) from 1687 to 1692. During this period, his actions as the highest authority in the region were deeply entwined with the thriving slave trade. As governor, Yale oversaw and profited from the Indian Ocean slave trade, ordering a minimum of 10 slaves to be sent on every outbound European ship from Madras.
A devastating famine struck southern India in the 1680s, and Yale took advantage of the crisis by buying and exporting hundreds of slaves to the English colony on Saint Helena. Historical records reveal that various forms of slavery were widespread in the British port of Madras during Yale’s tenure as governor.
Beyond his direct involvement in the slave trade, Yale also amassed significant wealth through other commercial activities and corrupt practices during his time in India. He grew wealthy through his involvement in trade and commercial activities in India, including trading goods like textiles and saltpeter.
Historians examining colonial records have found evidence that Yale was actively involved in and benefited substantially from the slave trade during his time as governor in Madras. When he left India in 1699, Yale had become a hugely wealthy man due to his private trading and profiteering during his tenure as governor of the East India Company settlement.
Yale’s controversial legacy as a governor deeply involved in the slave trade stands in stark contrast to his later reputation as a major benefactor to the Collegiate School in New Haven, Connecticut. The institution, which later became Yale University and was named after him, has recently acknowledged and apologized for the role its namesake played in the oppressive system of slavery in India under British colonial rule.
Despite facing conflicts with the Directors in London due to taxes imposed on local inhabitants and accusations of corruption, though many charges lacked evidence, Yale played an important role in the administration and relations with other powers like the Dutch and local rulers for over 5 years until 1692. While textile and goods trading formed the bulk of Yale’s fortune from India, this commerce was inextricably tied to the region’s slave trade at the time. Sales records and accountings show his deep involvement in slavery’s financial aspects.
One of Yale’s own portraits from 1719-21 depicts him attended by an enslaved African or Indian child with a silver collar on her neck, symbolizing how entrenched slavery was in his daily life and wealth accumulation. The fortune he amassed – including through profiting off enslaved labour – helped fund the school that became Yale University, forever linking the institution to this troubled history. This haunting image serves as a stark reminder of the inhumane practices that Yale not only endorsed but profited from.
Popular Indian YouTuber KeerthiHistory, who was recognized by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for her creative and informative content, made a claim in one of her videos. She stated that Elihu Yale, while serving as a high-ranking official for the East India Company, ordered the execution by hanging of an Indian boy for allegedly stealing a company horse.
Centuries later, Yale University has acknowledged and apologized for its founder’s ties to the Indian slave trade while working to make amends. However, fully quantifying Yale’s role and specific profiteering remains difficult based on the limited surviving records.
Yale spent over 25 years in India, where the East India Company’s sprawling commercial activities were deeply imbricated with human exploitation and trafficking. While he made his name through the textile trade, Yale’s success and the university’s very existence have undeniable roots in the oppressive system of slavery he participated in and benefited from during British colonial rule.
The revelations from “Yale and Slavery: A History” by David Blight and Team shed light on the complicated legacy of the university’s namesake. While Elihu Yale’s gift helped construct an entire building at the fledgling Yale College, this generosity was enabled by fortunes amassed through the brutal exploitation of enslaved individuals.
The book is part of Yale’s efforts to publicly confront its historical involvement with slavery, from the labour of enslaved Africans used to build facilities to the university’s opposition to establishing a college for Black students in 1831. Yale’s reckoning represents a step towards acknowledging and atoning for its past ties to the inhumane system of slavery.
As a result, there are growing calls for Yale University to acknowledge and address its namesake’s controversial past. A campaign emerged on social media platforms with the hashtag #cancelyale, calling for the university to change its name due to Elihu Yale’s involvement in the slave trade.
While some argue that Elihu Yale’s name is now divorced from the university’s own virtues and faults, others believe that his role in overseeing slave trade is objectionable and problematic, given Yale’s principles against naming buildings after those with controversial legacies.
As the debate continues, the pressure mounts on Yale University to confront and reconcile with its namesake’s past, prompting discussions on how best to acknowledge and address this complex history.
Acknowledging the Past, Embracing Change
In its apology, Yale University acknowledged its historical association with slavery and the role its early leaders and benefactors played in perpetuating this abhorrent system. The university recognized the need for ongoing efforts to promote diversity, equity, and an environment of inclusion and respect.
While the apology cannot undo the atrocities of the past, it represents a significant step towards acknowledging and confronting the university’s complex history. By openly addressing its ties to the slave trade and colonialism, Yale University aims to foster a more inclusive and equitable community, one that learns from the mistakes of its founders and strives to create a better future for all.
What the Apology Means for Yale Going Forward
Yale’s apology represents a significant commitment to addressing its historical ties to slavery and promoting diversity and inclusion on campus and in the community. The university acknowledges that many of its early leaders and prominent figures benefited from enslaved labour, generating wealth from the inhumane practice of slavery. Moving forward, Yale aims to create a more equitable environment by increasing educational access and excellence for underrepresented groups.
It plans to expand financial aid programs, establish partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and support teacher training initiatives. These actions demonstrate Yale’s dedication to fostering an inclusive community that provides opportunities for all, regardless of background.
Beyond its campus, Yale recognizes the need to promote inclusive economic growth in New Haven, where the university is based. Through community investment programs and supporting local businesses, Yale hopes to create job opportunities and drive economic development in the area. This commitment acknowledges the lasting impacts of slavery and aims to uplift the surrounding community that has historically been affected.
Yale understands the importance of preserving and sharing its complete history, including the difficult truths about its ties to slavery. The university plans to renovate buildings like Connecticut Hall, which was constructed using enslaved labor, and commission new art installations to better reflect this complex past. Additionally, Yale will establish open-access digital archives to share its historical findings widely and collaborate with other institutions on related research.
Yale’s apology is not a one-time event but rather the beginning of an ongoing process of reconciliation and community engagement. The university has established committees and welcomes ongoing input from the community to strengthen its commitments and ensure its actions align with the needs and perspectives of those affected by its historical ties to slavery. This openness to collective truth and reconciliation demonstrates Yale’s dedication to meaningful change.
Through these various initiatives, Yale aims to confront its past, promote diversity and inclusion, support local communities, preserve history, and foster an environment of open dialogue and continuous improvement. The apology represents a significant first step, but the true measure of its impact will be Yale’s sustained efforts to address the legacy of slavery and build a more equitable future.
Elihu Yale FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Who was Elihu Yale?
Elihu Yale was a British merchant and administrator who served as the president of the East India Company’s settlement in Madras (present-day Chennai, India) in the late 17th century. Though he never attended the institution, Yale University was named after him in 1718 due to his substantial donation that helped fund the construction of a new building on campus.
What was Elihu Yale’s involvement in the slave trade?
During his tenure as governor of Madras, Yale oversaw and enforced the East India Company’s active participation in the Indian Ocean slave trade. Records show he was directly involved in buying and selling hundreds of enslaved people, particularly during a famine in southern India in the 1680s. Yale also mandated that every outbound European ship from Madras carry a minimum of 10 enslaved individuals.
Why is Yale University apologizing now?
After a three-year investigation into its historical ties to slavery and the slave trade, Yale University issued a formal apology in 2024. The apology acknowledged the university’s early leaders’ participation in and associations with slavery, including Elihu Yale’s role in facilitating the Indian Ocean slave trade while governor of Madras.
Yale’s investigation revealed that the personal wealth Elihu Yale used for his donation was derived, at least in part, from his business dealings connected to the slave trade during British colonial rule in India.
What actions is Yale taking?
As part of its efforts to address this legacy, Yale plans to expand research partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and invest in teacher training programs in New Haven to educate about the impacts of slavery.
The university has also committed to creating memorials for enslaved and indigenous people, increasing financial support for the local New Haven community, and promoting an environment of “welcome, inclusion, and respect” on campus, according to reports.
Why keep the Yale name?
Despite calls from some groups to change the university’s name due to Elihu Yale’s ties to slavery, Yale has decided to retain it based on its renaming principles. The key factor is that while Yale oversaw slave trading operations, he is not principally remembered for his involvement in slavery after giving his name recognition through the 1718 donation over 300 years ago.
However, Yale has acknowledged the need to honestly confront this part of its history and take steps to promote racial equity and inclusion going forward.
As you have seen, Yale University’s apology marks a significant step in acknowledging its complex historical ties to slavery and colonialism. By confronting Elihu Yale’s problematic legacy, the institution demonstrates a commitment to transparency and reconciliation. This apology serves as a reminder that even prestigious institutions must grapple with their past and take responsibility for historical wrongs. Moving forward, Yale’s actions may inspire other universities to examine their own histories critically. Ultimately, this gesture opens the door for meaningful dialogue and potential collaborations between Yale and Indian institutions, fostering a more inclusive and globally aware academic community.
