Reckoning with Legacy of Slavery at Harvard in Search of our Personal Truths (For Students)

In an effort to reckon with the legacy of slavery, many institutions have embarked on research that directly calls out their ties to slavery. The academization of oppression past and present creates a paradoxical experience that may leave Black students and students of color with the dual experience of navigating the present-day effects of slavery in everyday life while also engaging with one’s oppression in an academic realm. In spaces where students are called on and contribute to solutions in redressing these legacies, there is often little opportunity to deinstitutionalize and de-academize their personal truths. With guided reflection questions, participants will have the opportunity to discuss this dual experience and leave with strategies that center their wellness.

Please note this session is for Harvard Chan School students. 

This session will be led by Anaëlle Séïde. Anaëlle was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and later migrated to the United States. Her experiences as an immigrant and love for research and social justice led her to the field of public health. Through her public health training at New York University, she studied social epidemiology in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Madrid, Spain and Washington, DC. Her past research includes topics such as positive youth development in girls of color, mental health in Caribbean communities, and violence intervention and prevention in disenfranchised communities.

If you would like to request accommodations, contact Jennifer Castro at jcastro@hsph.harvard.edu in advance of the program.