Knowledge Tree
Relations (1)
cross_type 2.81 — strongly supporting 6 facts
Lehman Brothers is linked to slavery because the firm's early business success in the antebellum South was built upon trading in enslaved humans and profiting from the slave economy, as detailed in [1], [2], and [3]. Furthermore, the omission of this history in cultural depictions like 'The Lehman Trilogy' has sparked critical debate regarding the firm's foundational moral and economic ties to slavery, as noted in [4], [5], and [6].
Facts (6)
Sources
'The Lehman Trilogy' and Wall Street's Debt to Slavery nybooks.com 3 facts
perspectiveFailing to combat or censure slavery is distinct from the act of purchasing enslaved humans or trading in their enslavement, both of which the Lehman brothers performed.
claimThe National Theatre's version of the play 'The Lehman Trilogy' omits the history of slavery in the beginnings of the Lehman Brothers firm in the antebellum South.
perspectiveThe author argues that the play 'The Lehman Trilogy' incorrectly marginalizes the role of slavery in the Lehman brothers' history, failing to acknowledge that slavery was an embedded, ordinary part of their business success.
'The Lehman Trilogy' and Wall Street's Debt to Slavery reparationscomm.org 3 facts
perspectiveThe author argues that the erasure of slavery from 'The Lehman Trilogy' distorts the history of the Lehman Brothers' beginnings in the antebellum South and allows the play to evade the moral question of whether making money out of money is more reprehensible than making money out of slaves.
perspectiveThe author contends that the Lehman brothers' involvement in slavery was commonplace for their time and place, but argues that this ordinariness makes it central to their history rather than marginal, challenging the narrative that the Lehman family's success was solely the result of immigrant hard work.
perspectiveThe author argues that the story of Lehman Brothers illustrates the formation of modern American capitalism, specifically the process of leaving slavery behind while banking the profits generated from the slave economy.