U.S. NewsHuman Rights

Actions

Why 1 Black Professor Wanted To Keep Harvard Law School's Shield

Law school professor, author and historian Annette Gordon-Reed was one of two people who voted to keep Harvard Law School's controversial shield.
Posted
and last updated

In October 2015, Harvard Law School students demanded the removal of the law school's shield because of its ties to a slave owner — Isaac Royall Jr. — who is also credited with helping form the Harvard Law School. Annette Gordon-Reed, law school professor and Thomas Jefferson historian, was one of the only people on a 12-person committee who wanted to keep the school's shield. That committee ultimately voted to retire the shield from the law school in March

We talked to Gordon-Reed about why she thought the school should've kept the shield and why she believes many people weren't receptive to her suggestion.