A Fork in the "Rhodes"
Snapshot: In this fictional case set at Harvard College, an African American college student with South African and Zimbabwean ancestry grapples with whether to apply for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, knowing that its creator and primary funder spread white supremacy and imperialism across the African continent. Should Cecil Rhodes’s historical legacy impact her decision—and if so, in what direction?
Detailed Case Description:
In this case, Layla, a high-achieving college senior, must determine whether to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship. While excited about the opportunities becoming a Rhodes Scholar would offer her, Layla has serious reservations, given Cecil Rhodes' legacy of white supremacy, racism, and imperialism. Her own family roots in South Africa and Zimbabwe make her particularly hesitant to take what she sees as "blood money," but others advise her that her family history actually makes her an ideal scholarship recipient. What would it mean for Layla to be a Rhodes Scholar in the context of the founder's legacy, the program's prestigious reputation, and her own identities?
This case helps groups consider how the legacies of slavery reverberate through academia today. How should prominent historical figures’ beliefs and actions impact the ways that institutions and individuals view “honors” associated with those figures (like scholarships)? How can individuals make ethical decisions at institutions whose entanglements with slavery and its legacies feel ethically compromised?
Explore Further:
- For more information about the life and legacy of Cecil Rhodes, try this biography from Oriel College, University of Oxford (redirect) and this Britannica biography of Cecil Rhodes (redirect).
- Learn about the fundamentals of the Rhodes Scholarship on the Rhodes Scholarship overview page (redirect).
- Learn more about what the Rhodes Trust is doing to address its “complicated history” (redirect).
- To understand how Rhodes’ legacy and British colonialism continue to shape institutions and inequalities today, consider Simukai Chigudu’s personal account as a Zimbabwean Oxford scholar, which describes living under Cecil Rhodes’s legacy in Zimbabwe and Chigudu’s experiences at Oxford University (redirect).
- Explore the faculty and student-led protests against Oxford University’s connection to Cecil Rhodes (redirect) and why the statue of Cecil Rhodes has drawn criticism from scholars at the University.
- The Rhodes Trust has resisted calls to remove Rhodes’ name from the scholarship program. Elizabeth Kiss, Warden of the Rhodes House from 2018-2025, explains the decision to keep the “Rhodes” name on the scholarship (redirect).