Slavery and Justice

First Readings

The 2006 Report of the Brown University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice made a deep and permanent contribution to historical scholarship on racial slavery in the Americas and transformed higher education’s engagement with its history of slavery. This digital student edition features an interactive reading experience, an expanded set of historical documents, and an array of supplemental resources. Also available is the 2021 digital second edition of Brown University’s Slavery and Justice Report with Commentary on Context and Impact.

Begin First Readings
Begin First Readings

2024 First Readings Assignment

For the 2024 First Readings Assignment we encourage you to read the “Introductory Note from the Dean of the College: Of Place and Purpose” as well as “The Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice: Challenging Legacies, Renewing a Tradition” before you dive into the Report itself.

For more information on how to highlight and annotate this digital version of the Report, please review the “How to Use the Digital First Readings Edition” section below. Finally, in preparation for your First Readings Seminar during your on-campus orientation, we have optional discussion questions to further stimulate your own critical reflections about the Report.