New York Times: Insurance Policies on Slaves: New York Life's Complicated Past

[Free Registration/Login Required] This article describes the controversial history of New York Life Insurance. In 1846 the company began selling insurance policies to slave owners in the South that guaranteed compensation if a slave died. These policies were popular among owners whose slaves worked in dangerous environments such as mines. The article names other companies that engaged in similar practices and discusses efforts by New York Life to make recompense for its past. [Published Dec. 18, 2016]