JACKSON: Rutgers' racist history requires action, not just acknowledgement
Column: Writer's Block
Jacob Hardenbergh, Theodorus Frelinghuysen, James Neilson, Andrew Kirkpatrick, William Livingston and Henry Rutgers. You might recognize parts of these names, as all of the people listed were given namesakes at the University, and they were enslavers.
I am not attempting to crucify these figures or ask for them to be erased from our minds. Rather, I am hoping to remind you that the University was created on the backs of enslaved labor and is still shaped by the history of enslavement.
The first permanent building for Queen's College, now Rutgers, was built in the early 19th century. Enslaved laborers were involved in the construction of our campus' first building.
We know Will, an enslaved man whose labor was hired out, helped construct the building's foundation and completed other masonry work for the Old Queens campus. Will and his labor are acknowledged in a sign in Old Queens called "Will's Way." Clearly, enslaved labor was crucial in the formation of the University from the very beginning.
Hardenbergh and Frelinghuysen Halls on the College Avenue campus were both built in 1956 and named to honor families that had contributed to the development of the University. The Hardenbergh and Frelinghuysen families both enslaved Black people and benefited from enslaved labor.
While most of the names of those enslaved by the Hardenbergh and Frelinghuysen families are unknown, several are known to us, including the enslavement of Sojourner Truth and her parents by the Hardenberghs.
Ukawsaw Gronniosaw is a name that I feel more Rutgers students need to know. Gronniosaw, born in present-day Niger, was enslaved by the Frelinghuysen family but manumitted upon the death of Theodorus Frelinghuysen.
Gronniosaw went on to write an autobiography, providing his thoughts and feelings about his life, something which is, unfortunately, exceedingly rare. The book was entitled "A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, An African Prince, as Related by Himself." Beyond shedding light on his own personal experiences, Gronniosaw illuminates what life would have been like for other enslaved people living in this area.
So, the next time you walk past these buildings, make sure to remember why these families were able to contribute to Rutgers.
The focus of this article is on the direct relationship between Rutgers and enslavement, but that is far from the only connection the University has with our nation's history of racism.
In fact, in 1926, a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan was created in New Brunswick, officially named "Rutgers Klan, Number 44 of the Realm of New Jersey." The chapter was not formally disbanded until well into the 1930s. While the exact membership is not known, the mere existence of such a group serves as a harsh reminder of the racist legacy in and around our University.
For many of Rutgers' current students, this information may seem detached from their daily reality of classes and Canvas assignments. But history is important. The history of this University, especially pertaining to enslavement, is crucial to our understanding of who this institution was created by and for and the legacy of those decisions.
The foundation of the University was reliant on benefactors such as Henry Rutgers and the Hardenbergh and Frelinghuysen families, all of whom benefitted from the exploitation of Black labor and the economy, which was based on the sale of other humans. These prominent families' ability to contribute to this University was rooted in wealth that was acquired in part from Black labor.
I think that it is great for Rutgers to recognize this and fund research into the connection with enslavement. It is important for us to recognize and honor the aspects of our history that have long been ignored.
But this is only one step. We cannot stop with acknowledgment. There needs to be more action than that.
In 2022, Georgetown University launched a Reconciliation Fund with $400,000 to help the communities of the descendants of people enslaved by the Jesuits in the U.S. This is an example of a university moving beyond acknowledging its past and taking concrete action to actively help the communities it has harmed.
I do not have an amazing proposal that outlines exactly what Rutgers needs to do, but I think Georgetown provides a good model of the type of action we need to take.
Additionally, it is important for us to recognize that issues of Black history are constantly shaping our environments and realities. The flurry of articles and events related to Black history in February is important, but it can come off as incredibly performative. We need to discuss these issues not only during certain times of the year, like Black History Month in February, but year-round.
I highly recommend that if you want to learn more about Rutgers' connection with enslavement, visit the Scarlet and Black Research Center's website or read their book "Scarlet and Black: Slavery and Dispossession in Rutgers History."
I want to reiterate that the work of acknowledgment is important. It is a step in the right direction, but it cannot be the only step.
Kate Jackson is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences majoring in history and minoring in critical intelligence studies. Her column, "Writer's Block," runs on alternate Tuesdays.
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