Scene inside the Oak Row museum featuring artwork and archival photography

Reconciliation and Education

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Reconciliation and Education

Davidson College is dedicated to the quest for truth.

In accordance with our Statement of Purpose, we honor the dignity and worth of every person — a commitment that requires us to confront our history with honesty and courage. The college acknowledges that enslaved and exploited people made foundational and innumerable contributions to Davidson’s history.

Guided by principles of restorative justice, the college is dedicated to repairing harm, strengthening relationships and rebuilding trust. We explore the past, present, and future with all the tools of the mind and spirit. This work extends beyond campus, creating new pathways for underserved communities in the town of Davidson and the greater Charlotte region to access a Davidson education.

Central to this mission is our relationship with the descendants of the enslaved and exploited. We are committed to engaging with the descendant community not just as subjects of history, but as partners in our present and future educational and restorative efforts.

Following the 2020 report from the Commission on Race and Slavery (view archive), Davidson has committed to continuous efforts to promote education and foster reconciliation in partnership with the descendant community.

Initiatives related to this work fall within four areas.

Prof. Susana Wadgymar instructing students in greenhouse

Research and Academic Initiatives

Advancing our mission through a comprehensive suite of research initiatives, interdisciplinary partnerships, and dedicated leadership focused on uncovering untold histories and activating historic sites like Beaver Dam for experiential learning.

Student in a lecture hall watching the professor

Educational Programming

Building historical awareness and social responsibility by developing coursework and specialized orientation programming on the college's history of enslaved and exploited people for students, faculty, and trustees alike.

a faculty member talks to two students in a classroom

Community Engagement and Outreach Towards Reconciliation

Strengthening community tires and advancing reconciliation through active engagement with descendants and civic leaders and targeted educational outreach for underserved youth.

Hilary Green makes remarks at a podium between of the sculpture of the Hands

Commemoration and Historical Documentation

Establishing our commitment to reconciliation through permanent physical memorials, dedicated exhibition spaces like Oak Row, and the maintenance of accessible archival databases that honor the lives of enslaved and exploited individuals.

Background

Davidson College’s formal institutional reckoning began in 2017 with the formation of the Commission on Race and Slavery (view archive). Tasked with investigating the college’s historical ties to slavery, t he Commission (view archive) produced a comprehensive report in 2020. That same year, the college issued a formal apology for its role in perpetuating the harms of slavery and its legacies.

This period of investigation and reflection led to research, teaching and learning initiatives, as well as physical transformation on our campus. With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited now stands in the historic quadrangle as a testament to those whose labor helped build the college and a symbol of our enduring commitment to reconciliation.

‘With Their Hands, This Place Was Made’: Davidson College Dedicates Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited

Hundreds of people gathered as Davidson College dedicated With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited on Oct. 23. Renowned artist Hank Willis Thomas designed the bronze sculpture in collaboration with architectural firm Perkins&Will. It serves as a place to remember and reflect upon the enslaved individuals who helped build the college and served its students and faculty without acknowledgment.