There’s an irony to the uproar over the claim that institutions of higher learning are advancing critical race theory to suppress white people. The reality is that many colleges and universities still struggle to make amends for their racism — or even recognize that amends need to be made. While researching and publishing facts about an institution’s ties to slavery is important and praiseworthy, this should be the bare minimum for colleges and universities that are committed to racial justice. Once past wrongs are identified, these institutions should develop and implement plans for restitution.

Racial reckonings are happening at many colleges and universities across the United States. The University of Richmond is now taking steps to mark and protect a burial ground for enslaved persons, which previous leadership knowingly desecrated. Students, faculty and staff have also lobbied to remove two names from school buildings — the name of a slave owner, who is considered one of the founders of what became the University of Richmond, and the name of a segregationist who advocated for eugenics. While the university created signage marking the burial grounds, and is discussing ways to further memorialize the dead, the university’s board has refused to remove the names of the slave owner and of the eugenicist — a noted historian — from the buildings, despite sustained pressure.

At a time when many of the nation’s public-facing institutions are grappling with what it means to become anti-racist, an increasing number of colleges and universities are finally acknowledging that white supremacy has been encoded into their land, built into their environment, and culture.

But in too many cases, acknowledging the racism at their institution’s roots has been mere lip service, while action that could bring justice to victims and begin to right the wrongs of the past is halting or nonexistent.

Read the full article about universities acknowledging their complicity in slavery by Andre Perry and Anthony Barr at The Hechinger Report.