In 2019, David Blight, known for his Pulitzer-winning biography of Frederick Douglass, was asked to lead a history project on Yale's ties to slavery amidst a climate of social justice protests. Initially reluctant, he accepted, emphasizing a narrative approach instead of a mere report. Over three years, Blight collaborated with Yale librarians and researchers, creating a comprehensive historical account free from administrative control, despite surrounding controversies like the 1619 Project and ongoing discussions around reparations. His work aimed at uncovering the truths of Yale's past with sensitivity and depth.
I call him beautifully human' I didn't want to spend years of my life studying Yale, Blight says. I had another book I had started I gulped.
Let's write a real narrative history. Let's dig into the archives and tell the truth.' And [Salovey] loved the idea.
History is a sensitive thing. As Blight and his team set to work, controversy raged over the 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones's recasting of American history.
But that's their job. That's fine. No one tried to control a single word of it.
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