Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice
Race, Slavery, Colonialism and Capitalism
This research cluster explores the way that race, slavery, and colonialism have shaped global capitalism. This is a three-year project that is co-led by the Simmons Center and the International Institute of Social History (Amsterdam).
This research cluster is reshaping scholar’s understanding of the history and growth of capitalism and will bring together the best scholars in the world. This is a three year project that is co-led by the Simmons Center and the International Institute of Social History (Amsterdam).
At Brown University, Ph.D. candidate Arlin Hill is reimagining how culture, power, and identity intertwine. Drawing on the Black Radical Tradition and inspired by thinkers like Sylvia Wynter and Cedric Robinson, Hill examines how colonial assumptions embedded in Western thought shape behavior and self-perception. His work bridges disciplines to uncover the deep connections between race, gender, and capitalism — and to imagine new modes of resistance. Through public panels and community dialogue, Hill invites others to reflect on how social realities are formed, sustained, and transformed.
In a joint project with the International Institute of Social History, the Cluster unites scholars from across continents. Since 2021, the group has met in Amsterdam and Jamaica to examine racial capitalism, colonial rule, and slavery’s lasting impact, fostering global discussions on these interconnected histories.
Inaugural Director, Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice (on leave July–December 2025); Director, MA in Public Humanities (on leave July–December 2025); Asa Messer Professor of Humanities and Africana Studies