Harvard University is a private Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard was founded on October 28, 1636, by a vote by the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. While Harvard was established under church sponsorship, it has not been formally affiliated with any denomination. Classes began in the summer of 1638, with one master in a single-frame house. Named after a minister, John Harvard, who left the college his books and half of his estate. Renowned for its curriculum, Harvard offers a diverse array of programs, from law to medicine, encouraging innovation and critical thinking. 

Harvard University's relationship with African Americans reflects a complex history marked by struggles and triumphs. Despite its founding in a time of racial exclusion, Harvard has opened its doors to African American students, faculty, and staff. Over the years, notable figures like W.E.B. Du Bois and Cornel West have contributed profoundly to academia and civil rights from within Harvard's halls. Today, Harvard actively seeks to promote diversity and inclusion, offering support networks and resources for African American students while acknowledging and addressing its historical legacy of racial inequality, and striving for a better future. Harvard has built a community composed of many backgrounds. 

Works Cited

Harvard University. “Timeline.” Harvard University, 11 Dec. 2023, www.harvard.edu/about/history/timeline/#1600s.

“Harvard University.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 2 Apr. 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/Harvard-University.

“Visual Retrospective.” AAAS, aaas.fas.harvard.edu/visual-retrospective. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.