African-American students at Harvard University will hold their own graduation ceremony called Black Commencement 2017 on May 23.

Harvard University's president acknowledges the school's complicity in slavery. She will unveil a plaque honoring four slaves who lived and worked on the campus.

A committee at Harvard recommended removing the law school's official shield over its link to slavery. This comes amid protests and heightened racial tension at Harvard and other universities regarding historic symbols of racism.