Slavery issues remain prevalent in North

Yale University put its diversity foot in its mouth. By championing the diversity of its tercentennial celebration, they opened themselves to attacks on the dark past of the university. Eight of their 10 residential colleges are named for slave owners and none are named for the famous abolitionist graduates. In the 1830s, Yale's officials opposed the building of the first black college, citing how that would be "incompatible" with their vision for the university.

These are just some of the many flaws found in the revisionist view of Yale that paints it as a champion of diversity and tolerance. It also shows that as the debate on slave reparations continues, the roots of slavery run very deep and very north.

Most of us are taught at an early age that the Civil War was fought to free the slaves, only to learn later that it was fought for a variety of reasons, slavery being the most fondly remembered and easily accepted.

We are also taught that slavery was a "South only" thing and the North was chock full of abolitionists, because this sort of easily divided world-view is easy for children to imagine.

But Yale is way up North. And there were slave owners and racism running rampant there. Perhaps we need to reconsider the way we portray the slavery conflict, as its effects are present in current talks of slave reparations.

The compromise on slavery, which allowed this country to be formed by compromising with dissenting delegates, is one we still regret. Money from the work of slaves provided necessary income to make our American economy work when it was still in its infancy.

The example of Yale should show us all that our history, North or South, college education or not, is one tainted by that terrible bargain to this day.

n Editorial Board: Keith Thomas, Tom McHenry, Erica Sagon, Matt Poston, Shawn McGann, John Wakefield.

Drinking laws should not focus on age

Slavery issues remain prevalent in North

OPINIONS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 256

Opinions editor:
Tom McHenry

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org