The founder of the University of the same name had slaves

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, a prestigious university that became widely known for its ability to accurately see coronavirus outbreaks in every country, is now back in the news, but because of its founder.

Not only did he not defend human dignity, but he took full advantage of black slaves, whom he held as slaves, while both those around him and history had characterized him as the most ardent opponent of slavery.

The irony is that this revelation not only overturned the facts to date about him and his actions, but also canceled the celebration in his honor, since due to the weight of the revelations, the educational institution considered that it was not worth being honored for his attitude.

Hopkins died in 1873 and left $ 7 million to build a university, an orphanage to house black children, and a hospital, the largest charity in the United States at the time.

But it turned out from government censuses that in his private life, he owned a slave in 1840 and reinforced his staff with four more over the next decade, if his father, in 1807, had set a different example. releasing his servants.

It all started when a researcher from the Maryland State Archives brought to light an 1850 census listing four enslaved people at Johns Hopkins House and contacted the University.

Teachers are now puzzled by the revelation, as the biography of their benefactor, written by Ellen Tom’s granddaughter, does not seem to have focused on such details.

“We now have government records showing that Mr. Hopkins was the owner of a slave man mentioned in his household in 1840 and four enslaved people mentioned in 1850,” the president of the Ronald Janelles University Institute wrote in a statement.