The World Is Watching: Woman Suing Harvard for Photos of Enslaved Ancestors Says History Is At Stake

Who has the right to own photos of slaves? We speak with Tamara Lanier, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Papa Renty, the enslaved man whose image was captured in a 19th century photograph currently owned by Harvard University. She is suing the school, accusing it of unfairly profiting from the images. We also speak with her attorney, Benjamin Crump.
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[@him2674]

harvard should give every dollar that they made off of these images to the family

[@haleystamper8489]

More!

[@abullard8409]

Agreed

[@portiaparker1669]

Yes absolutely!!

[@haleystamper8489]

@Sky House because they enslaved a man, took humiliating photos of him and his wife naked and then earned money off of those photos.

[@fastcars.4093]

This.

[@CurlyProverbz]

“They did not want us to have the concept of family” - you can unpack that for days. They removed children from their mothers breasts and sent fathers to other plantations for centuries.... Imagine the impact.

[@Lala216]

Absolutely! Family is our connection to humanity. A huge aspect of oppression is dehumanization and breaking spirits in the name of money. They make these plaques and hold ceremonies because it's cheaper than paying restitution and giving the rights of these photos to the family. It's also cheaper than admitting - Renty deserves to own his own image. Especially because that would set a precedent! In America, we still separate families between child services taking away black children from their families for minor infractions and parents being separated from their children while incarcerated.

[@RearviewWisdom]

And the audacity of anybody to say the reason for the disposition of African Americans is because fathers aren’t in the home makes me boil. We are literally fighting to physically function through psychological dysfunction brought on to us by way of trans generational trauma . Don’t ever fix your mouth to talk about a community of people who in-spite all odds, LIVE.

[@CurlyProverbz]

@@RearviewWisdom THIS 🙌🏾

[@deidresmith1187]

but this is not true, slavery didn't destroy the black family. Even during slavery our people were still getting married. Even though our ppl knew it was a possibility that they would be sold off and separated from their family. Black ppl were getting married through reconstruction and through the civils rights. Black ppl were getting married all the way up until 1970s. When the government realized that the black power base was the black family. It was then that they set out to destroy it.

[@ecosubb]

I agree with you Sister, we must reframe the narrative. Our Ancestors were not slaves they were kidnapping victims part of the most massive human trafficking crimes on the face of the earth. All america is complicate and are beneficiaries of the crimes. Please let everyone know we must reframe the entire narrative. Justice and Blessings

[@maryfeehan7896]

I am so really happy as an Irish person. We lost so many of our anscestors when we left to starve by the English. So very proud of this lady. Please God it will work out for them. 🇮🇪🙏❤️🇮🇪🇮🇪❤️

[@quietatse]

When you came to America you became white and perpetrated racism towards black. I encourage you to look into how the Irish treat black people in Ireland. Racism is rampant wherever you find white people.

[@clarisermiller769]

This woman is opening some people eyes right here. l thank God for you. I pray she gets all the justice her and her ancestors deserves.

[@rsoumeywall9022]

And these are the highly educated people, with absolutely no Humanity.

[@shebadavis9840]

Homie-Wan Kenobi: You mean pictures of those imposters in gas chambers! Those people are not the people you read about in the Bible.

[@rsoumeywall9022]

@@homie-wankenobi6965 and you sound dumber because if you did understand the Vdu you will see that neithr Ms. Lanier nor her lawyer are requesting Harvard to hideaway the pics, logically after the non ethical or even human process of taking them from the first place she at least deserves to have authority or saying over them.

[@rsoumeywall9022]

@@shebadavis9840 no he is talking about the World War 2

[@homie-wankenobi6965]

@@rsoumeywall9022 I know. She wants to take them home or get paid from them. This not cool folks. They may have great artifacts stashed away but scared to display them because SJW's will protest. Maybe even destroy the artifacts if it's not favorable like Confederate statues.

[@mourice1669]

@@homie-wankenobi6965 now you sound racist? i can't believe your are i defence of what harvard has done. its wrong.

[@warrenstates8955]

You can CLEARLY SEE THE PHYSICAL resemblance of this young lady and her grandfather

[@unlimitedone2200]

I think that is the coolest thing about this. At the end of the day she gets to reclaim her origin, and if she is successful so do many more.

[@jennifermarkens1882]

He was robbed of any decency or humanity whatsoever. I am very glad his descendents survived and fought atrocity and obscenity. The faith of the Black Community has a lot more credibility than Harvard.

[@LA-zb7kl]

You sure can

[@xavusabuwera8432]

Exactly

[@p.w.7493]

Indeed there's a STRONG resemblance! I know the spirits of her ancestors are at peace now for the action their great, great, great granddaughter is undertaking! Wishing her all the blessings in her lawsuit! I pray she'll be compensated for Harvard's use of these pics!!💯

[@zusibone]

The pain in that picture as a South African just moved me into tears. My spirit just went into a travail mode with a soul cry. Our people dehumanisation is well documented in our trauma cells and reading this injustice is triggering. I pray this beautiful family find closure and get what they deserve. It's too much 😭😭😭😭😭

[@chantalbaileyx5750]

It’s ok Sister we are Rising! Let’s link up! 🖤🖤👑👑

[@loveinthematrix]

❤️‍🩹

[@TomiaMacQueen]

Unveiling her ancestor's photo and licensing it out without permission and then denying her entry says it all.

[@shebrewalways44]

They are they’re ancestors that why !

[@yankeeebony5149]

His name is Ranti, a Yoruba ancestry. Yoruba tribe is one of the largest slave coast in Lagos, Nigeria. West Africa. And Ranti is a typical name of the Yoruba people meaning ( To Remember) or rather say ( REMEMBRANCE). The full name might be (OLUWA-RANTI) or in the short form (OLU-RANTI) meaning (the creator remembers). My grand father used to tell us the history of some of the finest and greatest farmers of all times. He used to say how those great farmers who owned 40-50/acres of plantation were taken and captured by the Christians who were white white men, and took them away forever to build a land far away and never return. He will forever be mentioning, AKANJI, OLA-DAPO, meaning the mixture of wealth. ADE-RANTI, meaning (the Crown remembers, this shows that he is from the lineage of the kings. So before slavery, Africans were Kings and Queens. There was a system of governance ongoing by then.) The story was that the Europeans became so envious of the sovereignty of the Africans and started to copy their lifestyle, then they started keeping kings and Queens. These were all successful farmers at the time, and were the owners of 40-50acres of farmlands to say the least. There are many more, and the evidence of these historical occurrences still remains vivid. The white people never had a history from the beginning, they documented all the lifestyle and history of every African tribes, and finds a similar resemblance among them all. Every story documented in their Bible were all the black people history. And they learnt everything from the black people, hospitality, cooking, medicines, herbal medicines, embroidery, engineering and many more. They wonder these people had no schools, yet they are masters of all these natural creations. So out of envy, they tried steal it all.

[@historyonthego]

Everyone got a history what are you talking about...

[@jayekaye5638]

@@historyonthego She is talking about Caucasians, and their lack of a 'creative' history. They stole African lifestyles, inventions, and governmental ideas. The Holy Scripture (Bible) is most definitely the account of Bloodline African Hebrew/Israelite History. After the death and resurrection of Yeshua, a few of the apostles took the gospel to the gentiles; who are Caucasians and Asians. It was the gentile people who incorporated the enslaving religion called Christianity into the established worship of YAH/God.

[@tysotope]

Imagine what other ‘secrets’ lay hidden away in prominent universities across this land

[@nombre1248]

Burrknee Δnderson PLENTY we haven’t even gotten into the banks yet!!

[@Mrs_Tobias]

Yip! Just makes me upset😓

[@TheKEprince]

that's y I always support programmers who hack into this universities and share this documents for all to see. Read on Aaron swartz and many more..... how do people not treat others as human despite the color differences

[@johndevereaux3944]

@@Mrs_Tobias pisses me off too

[@realone4103]

All of it..

[@mildredmartinez8843]

Amazing story. May Ms Lanier prevail in this case. As her attorney stated it is not just the unlawful use and retaining of these photos. It represents a small victory in the history of a people who were not even allowed to own their own images. The inhuman legacy of slavery is still with us.

[@Jake-nk4wg]

The judge ruled against her.

[@endernight1695]

So true, until demeaning things happen to their names, etc will it only be Inappropriate! Get it!

[@Jake-nk4wg]

@@endernight1695 Got it and you're soooo right. :)

[@naomistar87]

It's truly a beautiful photo💜 It shows pain and despair, covered by unfathomable strength. It's a heavy pic indeed

[@DoNotTellMeLater]

The World is Watching. RIP, Mr. Renty and Miss. Delia.

[@AngieTheENTJ]

❤

[@siristarburst9]

THE ANCESTORS ARE SPEAKING

[@512southernbelle]

She looks like Mr. Renty....

[@fredetoy3957]

Renti

[@donnarupert4926]

🥰

[@vision_333]

God bless her for standing up for what is right! May her ancestors guide and protect her

[@tadiafoster4460]

Amen, may God protect her.

[@elleyonaspg9580]

Ase`. May the ancestors protect and guide attorney Benjamin Grumps to preserve him till this is successfully resolved.

[@israelaberra2384]

May her ancestors find peace.

[@lazarohernandez8574]

My ancestor and her ancestors couldn't protect them self when they were alive. How can they protect her now?

[@citizenofnowhere7776]

@@lazarohernandez8574 Stupid comment. Their spirit is more powerful than the power that be. That us why they are nit duspoearing as just "slaves from long time ago".

[@gloriajackson5827]

Many, many years ago, still relevant. Thank you for sharing. 💜 We love you "Renti" & Relatives 🛐

[@terrikara6876]

Kia kaha e te whanau..!! Be strong family... as Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand have many times claimed back images of our ancestors that were bei g held or auctioned for collecters to purchase. Māori have been successful to have these 'taonga' treasures returned. As indigenous people of Aotearoa we have taken our grievances to the UN. Keep strong, pursue the vision, we are watching your progress..!!

[@F4TiMA.]

She has his face... how very very VERY sad yet beautiful(!) 🦋🙏🏿

[@Doc_McStuffins]

I thought I imagined it, but you see it too!

[@lindaf6274]

She has his DNA!❤️

[@TheMariemarie16]

I was looking for this comment because I thought I was crazy but she has his lips and his nose like for real

[@planetblack5588]

Tschan Andrews she does

[@homodeus8713]

Tschan Andrews 💖🦋

[@pepperigno]

She's the spitting image of her great grandfather! It's amazing! She and her family deserve to have those photos! Sending love and supprt

[@pwhales264]

EXACTLY

[@anthonyali7309]

STRONG GENES!!!

[@edwardwatkins6568]

Great great

[@beseechingyah2357]

Her eyes and noes look exactly like his!!!

[@mrs.elizabethdarcyladyofpe1288]

@@anthonyali7309 HELLA STRONG GENES! That’s crazy!!

[@71grayghost]

I'm proud of this beautiful well spoken sister. I pray that all families of all mistreated be given full representations 🙏

[@reev1161]

This is a news report of immeasurable proportions! Thank you.

[@timaaye8897]

This deeply disturbing. They need to relinquish the rights to these photos immediately.

[@warpnin3]

What if some people came up with proof that persons depicted in Rembrandt's or other famous painters' works were their relatives, and demanded that the museums gave the pictures to them, the descendants.. Would they have a case?

[@mrssuggz]

@@warpnin3 so you really gonna compare an actual picture of some ones suffering and degradation to a baroque or Renaissance painting really. They need to give it to the African American museum it does not belong at Harvard. Just like I believe confederate statues should be in a museum.

[@davidmccann4562]

Yeah give her the pictures

[@davidmccann4562]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 wow

[@dlitefulone]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 that makes him an ass. I guess revenge porn isn't revenge porn ...either

[@KhoisanTalks]

She is the spitting image of her 3x great grandfather, Papa Renty you've left a legacy in your lineage Sir, not even slavery could white wash your genetics away. RIP Tata

[@mrs.elizabethdarcyladyofpe1288]

I was thinking the same thing! She looks just like him!

[@sherrymcclure1675]

Good

[@empathymankind6956]

@@dogbreaththe3rd851 YOU GOT THE RIGHT NAME BABY♥️🖤💚✊🏽

[@mattjrk5679]

Give it 50ish thousand yrs evolution will diss appoint black ppl

[@DD-vc8yh]

I see a resemblance.. Harvard hmm ...everything comes to light at some point...

[@phillipsanchez4192]

Good on her for standing up for common decency, standing up to Harvard's hypocrisy, and defending her own heritage. There should be little resistance from Harvard on this one if they want to be participants in modern society. Clearly that doesn't appear to be the case.

[@ColaBling]

5 generations of greatness came back to protect the family as a whole. This is so powerful and beautiful.

[@butterscotch7286]

The pain in the faces of the people photographed is one no actor or words could convey

[@therealmulatto]

Go vegan

[@chefshamiwan9897]

The eyes are windows to the soul💯

[@raymondcasso7966]

Complete bull! That is a proud swajili man, standing proudly despite being enslaved. I'm glad this picture exists in the first place, the real shame is the lack of documentation of the rest of these enslaved peoples. The camera wanst invented until the early 1800s, and yes they were expensive. But at least they decided to take this one pic.

[@k.fleary4146]

@@chefshamiwan9897 the harvard devils have no souls

[@JShaw-fw5ct]

Because of racist white supremacy. Karma is a bitch!

[@aaliyahrasheed9647]

I respect these reporters for calling those formerly enslaved as “people held in bondage” thank you

[@thefloweroflove2709]

💯‼️ Truth

[@ecosubb]

We must reframe the narrative. Our Ancestors were not slaves they were kidnapping victims. Slavery is the resulting exploitation condition derived from human trafficking. We must reframe the narrative. Please!

[@thefloweroflove2709]

@Lynn Page So let me get this straight, who was in the jungle? You mean white people went through the jungle to capture our Ancestors? In the jungle really? If you’re black person, it’ll definitely worth it to study African history before invasions. Check out MrImhotep on Instagram, he might educate you about a thing or two about African history. It’s unbelievably ignorant to give opinion on something you know nothing about!

[@worldgonemad5866]

What's the difference? They are both non offensive ways of expressing the same idea?

[@worldgonemad5866]

@@ecosubb , the vast majority of African slaves brought to the new world were bought, not kidnapped. Most were enslaved by neighboring tribes and sold to foreigners. You're simply wrong.

[@suziperret468]

Sue! Yes! Demeaning and atrocious. These should be under control of their ancestors.

[@biggwillbeats4384]

Salute 🙌🏾MsLanier&Family.✊🏾 Renty &Delia RIP Salut Mr Crump‼️

[@lolazal1]

Oh God! The pain in that enslaved woman's eyes.

[@chestnutbrown9340]

That pain is passed on from generation to generation.

[@qbconnect]

The man's eyes were just as bad. Equal sympathy please

[@Chuxx1000]

I saw it too

[@Izannaziza]

I see it.....

[@johndevereaux3944]

I was going to say that

[@peacefreedom4930]

I’m offended by the plaque and the colleges refusal to invite this woman to the ceremony. The University has a $30 billion dollar endowment fund. But all they offered for the part they play in the exploitation of Blacks was a plaque? NO! What committee sat down and decided that was sufficient? That University was built on the backs of slaves, Papa Renty included. They are still profiting from Papa Renty. Yet they have offered nothing to the descendants to make them whole. I am absolutely disgusted. It was a lot of lip service in the speech by the former head of Harvard. I also saw Elijah Cummings at the unveiling. They love to bring out the Black gatekeepers who are paid to pretend they represent descendants of slavery. How much did Harvard pay to have him front and center. Papa Renty, Your grand baby is fighting for your freedom and your honor. Please, help guide her decisions to secure the victory!

[@insaneone4369]

Obama went there. Your supreme leader. Remember the fuss him and Michelle made over this? Yeah me neither. Because that never happened. 🤣 Yup black lives sure don't matter to rich black people.

[@peacefreedom4930]

Insane One Obama is Black. He isn’t a descendant of slavery. All Blacks aren’t from the same tribe.

[@peacefreedom4930]

Insane One you definitely selected a fitting screen name. Your ignorance is showing.

[@jacquelinespence6435]

Amen to that

[@973walid]

Facts 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@donaldholley1040]

It's very hard to find my family history. With ancestry, I could only go so far. Bless you and get what is right🙏

[@florencesenya1506]

Wow, the resemblance is there so vividly Her eyes and nose, wow. Amazing!

[@trynajackson7734]

And I see the pain and the humiliation in his Eyes! This is so hurtful to see😢😢😭😭😭

[@latrailrogers2386]

Yes and to see her sitting there with a full weave just make me Sick to my stomach THE MOST HIGH GOD AND OUR SAVIOR HAD NATURAL BLACK HAIR

[@SongofaBeach2012]

@Tina ButterflyMe too. I could see all the traumas, suffering and grief in her eyes. It made me weep for her and for my own ancestors who were enslaved in this country

[@lisangelblack9070]

@@latrailrogers2386 idiot.

[@dezinechic]

@Just Shepherd yep always

[@kissmyass1871]

I saw it too 😢

[@ccalr84]

I hope she wins hundreds of billions from Harvard, plus the amount they've received in royalties for licensing the images with interest

[@liplock9272]

Yes agreed

[@timothylines3867]

dream on.till you awake.

[@dezinechic]

@@timothylines3867 or until its a reality

[@warpnin3]

Ooooh! "hundreds of billions" We got a businessman here!😂

[@leedza]

please... they'll be lucky if Havard gives up a cent. Though I hope they get what is due.

[@HigherPowerWorldWide]

I am sympathetic to the views of Tamara Lanier, and I will pray for her success. Harvard should act promptly to rectify this horrible legacy from their past. They should be happy that they have the chance to correct this evil. Good luck Benjamin Crump praying for your success from the Republic of the Philippines.

[@margaretobe5094]

Amazing!!!!! Thank God for her boldness - Harvard need to give up those pictures - ASAP!!!

[@shebrewalways44]

They will never until The Most High Crack that sky than they gone be trying give it back than it’s too late 💯

[@HeatherSpoonheim]

My great-grandmother was Cree - and I met her and got to know her a little. Fortunately all her photos belong to the people of the reserve where she was re-located. I can post her photos as I please, on my personal posts. To have some university tell me that her image is their property would be totally unacceptable. My heritage is mine, not some intellectual property.

[@emerald-squad7974]

U see they think we are experiments....

[@thefactisfactis]

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

[@firdousejonesblackpantherb6198]

@@emerald-squad7974 and then everybody wants to get black Futures and everything but then have the nerve to be colorist in races everybody wants to look black until they have the consequences of being black

[@bigmamalynn3]

I Know That Is RIGHT!

[@loadedpipe1311]

Did you participate in the lawsuit?

[@OnlyRealsht]

Oh well if she is from their bloodline then it belongs to her period.

[@eugeniaboone5602]

@Fun Fact shut up

[@srisani6153]

I am watching from Suriname 🇸🇷.I will keep following the development in this case.

[@jmediamusicgroupjmgenterta4664]

Thank you for calling out this University for their shameful acts. It was very interesting how they just took our black history they have no right. It's interesting how they denied her attending her own family history so sickening. I hope she really wins her case!

[@jcr-studios]

“There’s a stain on Harvard’s legacy.” 100% and beyond belief that they wouldn’t honour and respectfully release the copyright to the rightful owners of these priceless photos. My god the racism in the USA is both heartbreaking and disgusting.

[@warpnin3]

"rightful owners"? If it weren't for Harvard, these pictures wouldn't even exist; you don't just "hand over" historical documents on demand. Imagine someone coming to you and demanding that you hand over an old cassette tape that you recorded yourself some thirty years ago, because a relative of theirs can be heard singing on it..

[@delmariecrandall9229]

Ditto from Canada

[@benzminibusdoc]

@@warpnin3 apparently you don't get the full implications here. Yes, the photographs wouldn't exist except for Harvard, but still, they never obtained the rights to these images. It's also not about you owning a self recorded tape of somebody, but rather you harvesting the financial and other potential of the content of the tape. I'd say, Harvard has already gained so much from using these pictures, it is now high time to, yes, hand over this material to the people whose ancestors have been depicted. To make a long story short.

[@sparklesp9304]

@@warpnin3 Did they get consent from that ancestor? If not, they don't have rights to those images

[@jcr-studios]

@@sparklesp9304 Exactly. 💯 They would not of received consent to take these photos in the first place.

[@missbritt288]

Its crazy how much she looks like him , especially her eyes

[@NaturalMystic71]

Indeed!

[@mysticmom3936]

YES!!!!! She does look like him! I thought the same thing immediately!!!

[@mysticmom3936]

They need to give back all our stuff. Especially the stolen art from Africa!!! Give the Sistah her money!!!

[@mysticmom3936]

Yes, the world is watching...

[@bigmamalynn3]

Oh YES!

[@robroy7456]

Instead of suing a school grow a pair and sue the government that allows this.

[@somebodysomething3451]

The eyes of this man and woman speak volumes!!!

[@noiretbeau]

She is so lucky to know her ancestors, so many black people lost family records..I pray 🙏 they join her in her fight.

[@MultiMolly21]

Went to Radcliffe (Harvard for Girls) and was pursued by the office when I couldn't bring myself to even answer their letter: "Do you mind rooming with a black girl?" When they finally, in a panic, cornered me by phone at my aunt's home just before school started (1962) and all I could say was "Did you ask her if she minds rooming with a white girl?" she answered that they had not. I knew I wouldn't last there. Harvard. I snorted with ridicule. I still do.

[@sylviavines]

Wow! Thx for sharing your story and exposing institutional racism as you experienced it!

[@ambermay6884]

Thanks molly

[@Jake-nk4wg]

YES!!! Many, many thanks Molly!!!

[@suziecreamcheese211]

Oh aren’t you special.

[@rasnybrutley2931]

You have the right name should’ve been mayonnaise or crabby patty or maybe Karen. Go make your green bean casserole or humus with chips. Thanks

[@her8923]

Much respect for this attorney...keep fighting granddaughter! We're smart and wise...and they know it...all good things must come to an end

[@styledtothetop3579]

And she WON the case!!!! Well done.

[@ronniehall3825]

Pay up! This is important y'all. DON'T LET THIS DIE!!!

[@toneyhunnell4862]

Work for something you might get paid

[@homie-wankenobi6965]

@Candy West Pay what to who?

[@joshthachosen1981]

@@toneyhunnell4862 your ancestors made mines work for free labor yeah AMERIKKKA owes us.

[@irritatedgenie7776]

Ronnie Hall The slave narratives !! They have hundreds of slaves testimonies.And photos

[@ronniehall3825]

@@irritatedgenie7776 -This is the way to reparations. We should all do the work and sue.

[@sekougetrouw6828]

Man I love Democracy Now. Y'all bring the TRUTH and NEWS. Thank you

[@ericme4767]

“Harvard University has ruined more Negro minds than bad whiskey,” Carter G. Woodson.

[@DJCole34]

sentbackfrom2084 damn right son.

[@nyakwarObat]

@@ericme4767 💥💥💥boom!!

[@siristarburst9]

Don't "love" them. Theyre doing what whites BETTER do to cover their asses, if that.

[@Madmen604]

SEKOU! You said it!!

[@sanderdegroot6628]

The world is watching for sure! Thums up from Amsterdam, the Netherlands 🙂

[@leladavis215]

YES!! I AGREE with her!! She is very BRAVE to STAND UP!!!! WE as a PEOPLE NEED THIS!!!?!

[@ACB2K]

Harvard is not 'better than this',thats why they are doing 'this',.

[@Fraylovesskincare]

#facts

[@homie-wankenobi6965]

Doing what? I'd be more outraged if the photos were hidden.

[@maryjane2965]

I like the style of the interviewers. Unlike others they do not interrupt and give the guests plenty of time and room to finish their point.

[@SongofaBeach2012]

I really appreciated that about them. The lawyer seemed intelligent enough, however his southern dialect and speech pattern was quite slow. I'm glad they had the patience not to interrupt because this was a fascinating subject and potentially groundbreaking case. I hope they win it!

[@06Kabal]

@Rachel Johnson my thoughts exactly. I hope the presiding judge on the case is patient enough to allow the brother time to speak as well, because he was a bit slow with it.

[@BigBirdy100]

@@06Kabal yes he was slow and i wanted him to speed it up...and I'm very southern and do talk fairly slow, he talks slower than me. He did, however, make logical thoughts and get his points across, albeit slowly.

[@dorothytemple4195]

I do believe slaves built a lot of these universities including Harvard.

[@truthpriceless7285]

This is great news. They will win.

[@fe1805]

Good moves!!! I'm glad to hear that. It is a wake up call.

[@stephaniemahoney2982]

I can see the legitimacy of her suits..you go girl💗💗💗I concur absolutely

[@ShezMarvalouz]

She has Renty’s facial features!! I pray she wins!

[@evelynapplewhite7340]

So true. Harvard knows it also.

[@mattjrk5679]

Your so dumb

[@mattjrk5679]

@@evelynapplewhite7340 learn the law about pictures

[@therecruiterchick]

She has his eyes

[@aubreyjames8795]

Lmfao. She doesnt.

[@kevinthomas6528]

Apparently Harvard is not better than this

[@k1dork]

Bad things happened to my ancestors so give me money!😂

[@shellydurunna]

Nope.

[@ritamariekelley4077]

@@k1dork There is "generational trauma." Horrific events have a long shelf life and can have emotional effects for generations.

[@Moorefamily4510]

@BLAIR M Schirmer yes they should allow people to get massage therapy and other holistic treatments that can actually help. I have seen a man living in sever pain who used oxy for pain. He weaned himself off and wait for it....HE FELT BETTER OFF THE PILLS!!!!! Those pills keep you on a cycle of pain. It's a bandaid not a solution! Dont get me started!!!

[@georgeboehringer5530]

@SamuraiKage1 most of the staff of Harvard are left-wing Jews not white people

[@biggredd1034]

Great points, great lawyering Benjamin Crump.

[@donnascott7037]

Democracy Now keep exposing truth to power love what you're doing respect always.

[@michaeloluwalana5959]

Thank you for this program. We are watching from Africa too. We hope she gets justice, which will not only mean a lot for her alone.

[@ecosubb]

Greetings Brother Michael! Thanks for acknowledging this injustice and atrocities. We must reframe the entire narrative around this so called slavery condition. In fact the Diasporian ancestors were kidnapping victims that were further exploited by all the institutions and government. These are crimes in the highest order of magnitude and must be addressed. Please share this with everyone, we need international consineous to reframe this narrative and obtain accountability.

[@moniqueloomis9772]

Thank you!

[@nanaowusuwaa9466]

Thank you brother

[@nanaowusuwaa9466]

@Romeo you people always lied to cover up your evil deeds, find a book called Queen Yaa Asantewaa war and you will see that there was a queen mother in Ghana from Asante tribe and her men fought the whites people who came to captured peoples for slavery. One of the the Asante king also called Otumfuo Osei Agyemang Prempeh also fought them so if Africans sold them then why did they fought them to resist them from capturing them?

[@christiandengler6689]

@@ecosubb well "Brother" rofl...you really ought to do some research! Since African nations pretty much put most of their money in arms and not even the European armies could afford to start a war with an African nation in these times, it pretty much never happened that slave traders (as the name implies, they were literally traders and therefore not armed!) actually went to kidnap anyone! Simple fact of the matter is that they didn't have to since those African nations used their weapons to go and raid other African tribes and sold the "spoils of war" (i.e. the prisoners) to the European (and in East Africa, middle eastern) slave traders, so there was enough supply to not have to risk your life to "kidnap" anyone! Get your facts straight!

[@fitawrarifitness6842]

The images are "owned by Harvard"? Wow! What an insult!

[@veebee3463]

Owned key word ... makes you sick thinking of the root word

[@warpnin3]

If you take a picture, you own it. Am I missing something?😄

[@3piecy]

@@warpnin3 yes.... you obviously are....

[@warpnin3]

@@3piecy So is the judge. Of course that doesn't prove anything, but if this woman turns out to be right in a next court case, she will be awarded the photographs andante financial compensation.

[@3piecy]

@@warpnin3 We’re not asking you to think about it like a robot! We’re asking you to think about it like a genuine Human Being!!! although! I do understand it is hard for some people to comprehend simple humanity. ❤️💚 lots of love!

[@willajackson8170]

Great job Democracy Now!

[@jamilahana1728]

I hope she sues their asses off!! May her anscestors stand by her, and be "revenged" for the awful life they were forced to live. God bless them all!🙏💖

[@thexvault]

This was her grandfather, it must be so painful to see him in a photo like that

[@peacefulprotester3274]

Great, great, great grandfather.

[@not-even-german4892]

Waouhh they look alike. Look at her cheekbones

[@jennylee5003]

no its not... its 169 years ago. she wants money

[@karolynpolite4658]

Jenny Lee a great great great grandfather is a grandfather... do you understand that this is her ancestor? Do you see his hollow, starved face and his indescribable eyes? She wants the photo so that his image is not used and made a spectacle of by that institution.

[@peacefulprotester3274]

@@karolynpolite4658 take the emotional aspect of this case out and realize that this lady has no case. She didn’t take the photo, and Harvard didn’t steal it from her. No case.

[@globalwarmhugs7741]

My mum did some hard research into our lineage. It takes dedication. I'm glad for you, that you've traced your family. Best of luck in the endeavour to take back your family from the establishment, lovely lady. 💛💛

[@5british5]

Its a photo, not a person. lets' be logical.

[@MsAnon4223]

@@5british5 If you think this is "just a photo" you're the one who's not being logical. This is about so much more than the physical photo. Did you not listen to the video?

[@5british5]

@@MsAnon4223 Please tell me more. People owned slaves, It was rectified. What more can you want?

[@5british5]

@@MsAnon4223 ""The World Is Watching: Woman Suing Harvard for Photos of Enslaved Ancestors Says History Is At Stake" clearly you are wrong... How is she going to sue for history ? Please logic that one out .

[@MsAnon4223]

SIGH...that moment when you type out a long ass response and then decide the troll isn't worth it 🖕

[@judithtcheboh7818]

Courage dear Sister , the world is not just watching but praying for you .

[@olubunmiogundele2355]

honestly I am pained with the look on their faces.

[@jessicaemilia101]

I can’t get over the look in his eyes. It’s haunting. I’m rooting for your case, take them for EVERYTHING you can get.

[@zhaleciamotley2793]

It’s called Pain hurt abuse and enslavement

[@peppermint2111]

@@zhaleciamotley2793 exactly.. I also see strength, courage, power and fire.. and determination. Although he looks emaciated he has a spirit of fierceness. Eventhough he was a slave they did not break him his eyes are cold black, sullen, enraged. But as the same time I can see the gentleness of his loving heart. That is the power of a True Man. They say the eyes are the window to the soul that is what I see. These pictures are powerful because they show the true essence of the man.

[@kat64470]

The woman's eyes are even worse

[@stormstorm7396]

@@kat64470 I agree she looks defeated she looks afraid 🎯🎯so sad 🥺🥺

[@raelsackey104]

Harvard did not just “discover” the photos. They had them all the time. You can’t discover something you already possess. Harvard employees just discovered that they had them.

[@joshmiller9783]

But hey that doesnt matter cause now a black women wants to profit off of something she has no stake in.

[@chiomaokenwa2689]

@@joshmiller9783 how, if that’s her great 3x grandfather. Who wants to see their relative in that condition, not everyone cares abt money.

[@TK-cg4ks]

@@joshmiller9783 They are HER ancestors

[@moonrise3277]

@@joshmiller9783 look at this pea brain...go take some pills of logic & some common sense... Ugh 😫😩

[@bigmamalynn3]

Real Facts Ya'll😢

[@elatomala1976]

May God bless protect and guide us all as we walk through this valley of darkness I pray Amen May she get as much as she possibly can!

[@daniaa.oliva-pena7338]

I see the resemblance to her grandfather. I can't imagine the sickening feeling she had seeing her grandfather made to participate for this photograph. I feel overwhelmed and sick . I will never , could never understand the human separation.

[@farisasmith7109]

I've seen this man's picture used so many times in documentaries and books. This is terrible. To be used even after your gone in be supposedly "intellectual" people is just profane. Even your image isn't your own. I hope their family gets justice.

[@ambermay6884]

Right now your family never contacted or properly compensated

[@marjorielemons7551]

Yessss!!

[@JD-oz6nq]

That Agassi of a guy is suffering from huge inferiority complex among many others like him that he went out of his way to prove that a certain race is inferior to another. Very shameful

[@maestroofamore8948]

I'm sure that Papa Renty would be proud of the immortality & notoriety that his image has achieved. If not for Harvard and the photographer, nobody would've ever heard of him!

[@chuckrobinson599]

@@maestroofamore8948 you know, that may be the truth. You know the woman who played Aunt Jemima, would be happy that she was still popular even years after she died. Either that, or she wouldn't be like all the other actors, say Charleton Heston, who was rather proud of his performance as Moses.

[@MichaelScreamMachineEvans]

We need to Sue the entire system

[@insaneone4369]

Then you go ahead and do that.

[@MichaelScreamMachineEvans]

@@insaneone4369 Wow didn't realize that people needed your opinion... well luckily for me that I don't.

[@yf9983]

Nobody has the right to display pictures 📸 like that of any ancestors in that way, horrible lawsuit

[@systasledge3512]

UK Well done!😍 A great stepping stone in the process of reclaiming our natural born rights! Family separation is the break down of afro Carribbean beings success...let this be the template for us all to begin to regain 'the value of families' and encourage us to be conscious beings of worth inorder for us to live respectfully together and create our abundant happy lives.🙏🏾💓

[@sekougetrouw6828]

Ben Crump is making history. I am so proud of him for publicly leading the legal fight for equal rights and reparations. This is landmark shit. So proud

[@FungusMossGnosis]

@For the Love of my peoples 4life O.J. Simpson and Bill Cosby are both guilty as hell, you people have mental problems if you can't see that.

[@FungusMossGnosis]

Reparations at this point are not going to help those struggling the hardest in this unjust Country. We need more action and policy to work together for justice for all people suffering, not neoliberal lip service and a minor, one time (frankly insulting) cash transfer to a tiny minority. Nothing can repay the injustice done to American Indians and Blacks. We have to all be keeping the eye focused on ending mass incarceration of nonviolent drug users, getting medicare for all, a new deal for our environment, stopping the war machine, and taxing at least 77% on the Billionaires. Reparations would drive a wedge of resentment between people already suffering the worst, who need to be working side by side. Justice for all the working classes is not anything like saying "all lives matter".

[@FungusMossGnosis]

@Swae Ocean Not famous, so what? I know all about party girls, druggies, and gold diggers. Frank Sinatra raped them, Bill Cosby raped them, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump raped them. You think because they 'play the game' they signed up for being drugged and raped without their consent? Because they're greedy or slutty otherwise? That's not only an illogical position, it's amoral.

[@sekougetrouw6828]

@Swae Ocean no one is trying to convence you not to be racist. You are a racist. Be proud of who you are.

[@ASMRyouVEGANyet]

@@FungusMossGnosis 💯👏 👏👏 👏

[@tiffanyharris4072]

The hell with a plaque. Since they are complicit in slavery what are they doing to discount education for ADOS? This is crazy, they need to give the family the photos and relinquish all rights to them.

[@freetafreedom4470]

This is the wickedness of other people, who are Confederate against ADOS!

[@rosesatchell3996]

@ Tiffany. I agree. Instead of a plague- how about giving the ancestors of those ADOS (African Descendants of Slaves) a free college education. Yes free- as in the the free labor they were forced to endure

[@BlackGirlLovesAnime6]

We're not getting any money the slave masters already got the money. If we do get money it wont be nearly as much as we deserve

[@jacquelinelewis6734]

These images is so sad, for what happen to our Black ,People ,what hate to the Blackrace,so sad.what they went true .l feel the,pain for my People and what they went true.so sorry,no mercy,no guilt ,no empathy.so long..so much hate in some whites,and some still hate.and some self hate black people,l have no room for hate for any race.

[@johndevereaux3944]

They are going to keep doing this to us

[@carlhalstead8953]

Indeed the world is watching

[@pennydink72]

Imagine the look on their faces as they got to digging in Egypt. The evil people have never done anything as glorious.

[@beautymakeover]

It’s looks like America-Harvard included don’t mind acknowledging with a plaque but the fact that they couldn’t invite a family member shows this sentiment is disingenuous and not truly about honoring that man’s legacy..it’s about them cherishing their own. America has not truly repented for their participation in slavery, and shows no genuine remorse for the most horrific crime against mankind.

[@mneith4552]

beautymakeover I believe U hit it!

[@beautymakeover]

M Neith :(

[@millyuganda05]

Yup

[@kissmyass1871]

They didn't want her talking about those pictures if she came.

[@brandonjdzzzz6278]

The most horrific crime against humanity was hitler slaughtering 3 million Jews. Or the genocide committed against Native American tribes when over 100 million of them were wiped off the face of the earth. Yes slavery was terrible but let’s not be selfish and true to act like it’s worst thing to happen to a select group of humans. Anyways enjoy your black privilege.

[@Doc_McStuffins]

Yes, Harvard, we are watching.

[@rubengutierrez5102]

That would make me upset! In fact, I'd be livid if those people in the photographs were a part of my family!

[@ronyafeldman4853]

God bless all your Ancestors 🇬🇧

[@gigicats6]

You can see the family resemblance of Tamara and Renty.

[@JayJay-iy6ri]

gigicats6 i want to say that also.

[@mymathmind]

Amazing story. Thank all for sharing.

[@nohedidnt9402]

Thank you for fueling the flames of hatered! What a crock of shit!

[@brunivel5152]

Tamara God bless your heart I hope you get a lot of blessings from all the ones that hears your story!

[@EDRPOS]

As a black person...can we see the pain in both of their eyes? The min I see it I break down crying...we feel it, we know it, may not be as dominant but have it too. This is just so disrespectful to the family and to EVERY black person today...no matter what country we are from. Our ancestors all suffered at the hands of slavery, apartheid, segregation and Harvard should be ashamed of themselves...but wait the responses we hear, it was soooooo long ago. No it wasn't because the pain and grief is still there today...smh

[@06Kabal]

I love how well spoken and concise this sister is while delivering her message. Get what’s rightfully yours sister! We’ll be rooting for you.

[@mpalmer7800]

No blacks in America should pay for higher education PERIOD!!! Every black American should give $1 towards this lawsuit!!! We need to be proud of our past rather than feelings of shame. Have we know shame as humans? It’s sad extremely sad!!!

[@royaldiadem8660]

I'm Ghanaian, but I'll support too

[@elianeklouvi3631]

M Palmer im Togolese and will support

[@vsanchez7158]

There was an elementary school named after Agazziz here in Chicago. Its name was recently changed to Harriet Tubman.

[@estherkeeling777]

They are probably not going to win the lawsuit because they are going to fight for the right to own the pictures.

[@martintramil8084]

"17 Trillion in stolen Labor..." is one estimate I've heard... pay up USA! With Interest too...

[@5british5]

You think people of today should pay the the transgressions of a few people in the past?

[@aprylspage5852]

5british5 you must read more...... the native Americans received 4.2 billion, the German & US gov paid holocaust survivors! Now, the appropriate question should be why not? Don’t you think AA tax dollars go toward paying these reparations? Or just your privileged $$. When whites say why should I pay for something my great grandpa did it’s exclusively because You steal reap the reward of inhuman act! You were afforded jobs that Brown ppl were disregarded. Your grandpa initiated unions to distribute jobs to mostly whites and a hand full of browns! Then laid the few brown folks off first. Oh, & your grandpa’s Jim Crow illegally locked up millions of brown people to enslave them in a different kind of slavery that’s still in production today! But the interesting part is, our grandpa’s & great grandpas fought for this pos country when the country doesn’t fight for them. Those are a few of the reasons! Your granny owns her home because a bank allowed her to purchase even though she was most likely as poor as brown folks! That’s why. It’s the privilege that you don’t want to admit to receiving. You want us to think that it’s because of hard work? Um, not exactly! I can’t think of anyone who has worked harder than slaves & indentured servants. People who were charged on the front & back end to never make a profit when white men had the only say. So the question isn’t why, it’s how to take care of it. Slavery & it’s products directly affected my parents who went to segregated schools & couldn’t vote or go to school bc of white terrorism. Just like with the college admissions scheme, it’s nothing new that the system is fixed for white males & that white females have benefited more than any others under affirmative action. Now that’s not a complaint, they shouldn’t be in bondage to white men either!

[@martintramil8084]

@@5british5 "of a few people..." the whole country pal. What a complete lack of historical comprehension you demonstrate. And yes, I think people today should pay for this...and sorry pal, I don't have time here to educated you on the past of the USA and it's time to pay the piper for the theft.

[@5british5]

@@martintramil8084 so during a time when the vast majority of people struggled to feed themselves you think all people had slaves? And unable to back your own ideas what a shock. Thanks for demonstrating the lack of logic your idea holds.

[@martintramil]

@@5british5 you Sir are just ignorant and I don't have time to educate the ignorant one on one! Reaching for some desperate comments on people not being able to feed themselves has absolutely nothing to do with the Topic at hand! Fact is the wealth was stolen and instead of tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, the USA needs to pay for its Human Right violations, period 😃

[@delmariecrandall9229]

The US has got off scott free regarding the rights of African slaves and their families. FREE RENTY! MY OPINION FROM CANADA

[@UNITANCOMMUNICATIONS]

Truth crushed to earth shall rise again. May God bless her for seeing and standing for truth. May the spirit of her ancestors guide and protect her and others in the fight for what is right and fair.

[@brunivel5152]

Tamara I am so happy to know abaut you and that you are going to get your recognition in history of you and your family's !!!!

[@ab71640]

Keep fighting for our ancestors dignity and respect my sister. Our ancestors are watching and prayingfor us.

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

She looks like him. I came across my ancestors Slave ownership papers and it was haunting. They were sent by boat from Georgia or Alabama to Louisiana. It was like an invoice for a package. That's what it was like, they were property.

[@Lilylightbourn]

Wow, I would love to see a tiktok on others showing these documents. History is crazy and sad

[@abcdefg7435]

Look up ‘Species of Property’….

[@leestimis9264]

How dare they say they own the image of her family. Do the right thing and realize you don't own a damn thing. Give that picture back and pay them retroactive and emediatly !! Do the right thing by this man that lived a horror by the hands of people who thought they were better some how to other humans.

[@marcellouswalker472]

TRUTH is all that matters. And there is no way around TRUTH. APTTMH.