While partisan politicians verbally squabble over the idea of reparations, institutions of higher learning have been taking action to try and provide some repair for their role in slavery. Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, published a report in 2006 about its founders’ connection to slavery and created a center to research slavery and injustice. Brown also has a memorial to slaves and a Slavery & Legacy walking tour. Other universities have followed their lead including Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey, which unveiled a $28 million plan to “repent for its ties to slavery;” the Virginia Theological Seminary, which started a $1.7 million reparations fund and Georgetown University, which apologized to descendants of slaves it once owned who were sold to cover debts. Georgetown students voted to create a reparations fund and pledged to raise $400,000 a year for it.
