University of Pennsylvania’s Troubling Ties to Slavery
For years the University of Pennsylvania touted itself as being on the right side of history. That’s what Penn student, VanJessica Gladney, thought, too. But when Gladney walked past the bronze statue of George Whitefield, she soon learned that the university’s founding story had deep connections to slavery. City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri unpacks this story with Zoe Greenberg, journalist for the Philadelphia Inquirer’s A More Perfect Union series. This series that explores the roots of systemic racism in America through institutions that have been founded in the city.
Read Greenberg’s latest story for the series here: https://www.inquirer.com/news/inq2/more-perfect-union-university-pennsylvania-history-slavery-research-20221011.html
And register for the Inquirer’s live event about “Indebted” on Nov. 3 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inquirer-live-a-more-perfect-unions-indebted-tickets-435693359567?aff=editorial
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