No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp 216: David Blight: Why How We Remember the Past Matters
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Jun 30, 2025 
David Blight, a Sterling Professor of History at Yale and an expert on slavery's legacies, dives deep into Yale’s historical connections to slavery. He highlights the moral complexities of acknowledging painful histories and why our collective memory shapes societal identity. The discussion reveals how narratives can sanitize historical truths, particularly around memorials and race. Blight emphasizes the importance of confronting these uncomfortable realities to understand present injustices and the paradox of a nation built on freedom while upholding slavery.
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Unexpected Yale Slavery Project Call
- David Blight got a surprise call from Yale's president to research Yale's ties to slavery in 2020.
- Despite initial reluctance, he led a three-year project resulting in a thorough historical examination.
Slavery Normalized in Early Yale Era
- In early Yale history, many New England clergy owned slaves, reflecting normalized slavery in the region.
- Connecticut's economy was closely tied to the West Indies' slave-based sugar trade, impacting Yale's leadership.
Enslaved Labor Built Connecticut Hall
- Yale's Connecticut Hall was built partly with enslaved laborers, recorded meticulously including individuals like "Mr. President's Negro."
- Freed slave Jethro Luke owned property on today's Yale campus and and both he and his family contributed to the building's construction.
