Emory University Apologizes for Its Deep Ties in Slavery After Vice President Gary Hauk Pens New Book

Emory University apologizes for its deep ties to slavery after vice president Gary Hauk pens new book revealing school's dark side.

Who knew of Emory University's dark side? This is one of the finest universities in the country and has made impressive contributions from the fields of medicine, healthcare, education and more. Well, according to WSB-TV, the university is apologizing for its ties to slavery. Yeah, their dirty secret is out. Seriously though, is anyone really surprised the university, located in the Deep South, had ties to slavery?

"It's sort of like exposing a secret of the family. You're a little embarrassed for the world to see," said Gary Hauk, Emory University vice president and deputy to the president.

Hauk’s newly published book, titled "Where Courageous Inquiry Leads," reveals the connection between Emory’s first campus in Oxford and slavery. "The university rented slaves from surrounding slave owners who were engaged in construction activities," Hauk said.

John Emory, for whom the school is named, was a Methodist bishop and a slave owner. So was the school’s first faculty and trustees, Hauk’s research reveals.Slaves were used to build the Oxford campus, with buildings dating back to the 1800s. Source: WSB-TV

Very interesting and it's amazing that this story is being told as a result of the vice president's new book. I have never felt comfortable with this whole apology mission some states and institutions have embarked upon. Why apologize? The people who perpetrated unspeakable acts of violence against blacks and Indians for no other reason but the color of their skin are long dead. So, what's in an apology? It means nothing. Emory will still be the prestigious institution it is, well, with a twist. Slave labor built it.