The resignation of University of Virginia President James Ryan is just the most recent indication that addressing the issue of race on college campuses in the Trumpian Era is hazardous to one’s professional health.
But some institutions of higher education appear to be handling the challenge successfully. For example, here are five schools that have integrated the hot topic of slavery into their curriculum, as illustrated by quotes from course syllabi.
Vanderbilt University (Department of Sports Management)
ESPN 450: The Prehistory of the NBA — “This honors seminar focuses on the crucial role that slavery played in the evolution of the National Basketball Association. If it had not been for ships bringing tourists of color to the shores of North America, the NBA today would consist of Cooper Flagg and a handful of Eastern Europeans. The league would have 3 or 4 teams in high school gyms playing games broadcast on community access cable.”
University of Southern California (Department of Film Production)
NETFLIX 212: The Miniseries in American Television — “If you enjoyed ‘The Queen’s Gambit’, ‘Band of Brothers’, or ‘Baby Reindeer’, thank slavery. Slavery was the inspiration for the blockbuster ABC miniseries ‘Roots’ in 1977, which was based on Alex Haley’s novel of the same name. The massive success of ‘Roots’ on television paved the way for all subsequent miniseries. Criticizing slavery is like voting for bad TV.”
Louisiana State University (Department of Hospitality and Tourism)
HOSP 367: Beverages and Their Origins — “Planter’s Punch, the mint julep, and sweet tea are enjoyed by millions of Americans every day, thanks to the frequently maligned institution of slavery. These refreshing drinks were consumed in the early evening by plantation owners and their wives as they exclaimed ‘HUZZAH’ and toasted their loyal employees returning from the fields. Slavery gave us a world in which we have alternatives to drinking hot cocoa when it’s 90 degrees outside.”
New York University (Department of Public Administration)
PA 112: Urban Transportation — “Without slavery, there would have been no Underground Railroad, and without the Underground Railroad, it would never have occurred to engineers that transportation systems could be installed below street level. This is why the Catholic Church recognizes Harriet Tubman as the Patron Saint of Subway Systems.”
Dartmouth College (Department of Finance)
ECON 495: Engines of National Productivity — “Where would the United States be today without the buttoned-down, all-white, 100% cotton dress shirt? What would corporate executives, hedge fund managers, and day traders wear? Spider-Man tee shirts? The massive harvesting of pure cotton during the era of slavery in the U. S. enabled the rise of a smartly attired professional class. It’s often said that ‘clothes make the man’. Well, it’s clear what made those clothes possible. This course represents a tip of the hat to all those folks who lent their scratched and gnarled hands to the task.”
Let’s be honest. College and university leaders need to stop whining about the impossibility of tackling tough issues in the Time of Trump. These five schools are showing us that it can be done.