"A Platform Connecting the Spokes on the Wheel of History of Enslaved People and Descendants"
Copyright Lloyd Family Trust
The Lloyds, The Royalls, and Harvard
The Coalition was formed out of a family history that links the Lloyds to Cuba and Darby Vassall: an enslaved mother and son living in 18th century Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cuba was brought to America by her first enslaver, Isaac Royall Sr. Though Cuba would later be enslaved in Cambridge by his daughter Penelope, his son, Isaac Royall Jr, would go on to be the first to endow Harvard University with a law professorship that would become the Harvard Law School.
In 2021, the Lloyds and the Royalls were reintroduced in a radically different world. Ruth Okediji, professor of law at Harvard Law School, organized a meeting at Havard Memorial Chapel, introducing Egypt and Dennis Lloyd to Julia Royall – descendant of Isaac Royall – in a powerful meeting, located in a space so deeply tied to the history of the enslaved and the enslavers. The two families have since developed a rich relationship of reconciliation, understanding, and friendship. This relationship has shaped the Coalition's mission, projects, and attitude. We invite you to visit the webpages below to learn about Julia, Ruth, and Harvard's projects and initiatives.
In an interview with Harvard Law Today, Ruth Okediji (Harvard Law School LL.M., 1991 and S.J.D, 1996) held a worship night at Harvard Memorial Church on February 28, which featured Grammy-award winner Naomi Raine of Maverick City Music, Harvard College’s SoulFood worship team, as well as Restore Worship from Cambridge’s Pentecostal Tabernacle Church. Okediji, who is also a world-renowned expert in intellectual property (IP) law, a lead negotiator for African countries on IP issues, and director at the Berkman Klein Center, spoke about the origins of the event, the role of faith and worship music in the Civil Rights Movement, and some of her own favorite hymns.
Julia Royall has been working in international health in Africa since 1990 and has more than 40 years of professional experience in the communications field. She has focused her efforts on how access to medical information and the Internet can support improved health and how new technology solutions can assist remote and underserved communities in developing countries.
On April 26, 2022, Harvard President Larry Bacow released the Report of the Committee on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery, accepted the committee’s recommendations in full, and announced a historic commitment of $100 million to fund their implementation.