Did Georgetown University apologize for slavery?

Georgetown Apologizes for 1838 Sale of More Than 270 Enslaved, Dedicates Buildings. An apology from Georgetown and the Society of Jesus' Maryland Province for their roles in the 1838 sale of more than 270 enslaved individuals for the university's benefit took place today in the company of more than 100 descendants.

How was Georgetown University involved in slavery?

Research shows the college relied on Jesuit plantations in Maryland to help finance its operations. And in 1838, more than 270 slaves were sold to keep the school afloat. Some of the descendants of those slaves live here in Minnesota.

How many slaves did Georgetown University sell?

Swarns sets out the involvement of the Jesuit priests who administered what is now Georgetown University (where I teach) in the institution of slavery—notably, through their sale of two hundred and seventy-two enslaved people, in June, 1838.

Did Georgetown sell their ancestors?

The harrowing story of the 1838 sale of 272 people to two plantation owners in Louisiana is told over an extended chapter. It documents how families were callously split apart, despite orders from leaders in Rome. The transaction made the Jesuits and Georgetown about $115,000 in profit ($3.78m in today's terms).

What is the Georgetown University Reparations Program?

Georgetown University and the Jesuits have pledged $27 million in money and land donations to the descendants of 19th-century enslaved people who were sold to fund the highly prestigious institution.

Georgetown University apologizes for past involvement in slavery

What is the lawsuit against Georgetown College?

Fired last year amid allegations that he sexually assaulted an employee on a work trip, former Georgetown College president William A. Jones is suing the college, its Board of Trustees and several executives, claiming he was the victim of a personal vendetta that led to his ouster from the Kentucky institution.

Is Georgetown College in financial trouble?

Georgetown College has retained its accreditation from the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSOC) although with a warning to continue addressing and improving the college's financial health. A two-year probation was lifted in 2018 by SACSOC for Georgetown College.

Did the Jesuits sold slaves in Georgetown?

They met in Washington, to put the deal into writing: 272 men, women, and children — many of whom belonged to families that had been enslaved by the Jesuits for generations — were to be sold for the sum of $115,000, roughly $422 per person. The handwritten agreement, signed by all three men, ran to eight pages.

When did Georgetown first admit black students?

Georgetown's first Black student, Samuel A. Halsey Jr., graduated from the SFS evening school in 1953, and the next Black student would not be admitted to Georgetown College until the 1960s, according to the Black Book of Georgetown.

What college was built by slaves?

Profits from slavery and related industries helped fund some of the most prestigious schools in the Northeast, including Harvard, Columbia, Princeton and Yale. And in many southern states — including the University of Virginia — enslaved people built college campuses and served faculty and students.

Which famous person went to Georgetown University?

Other notable Georgetown alumni in the field of theater and film include Bradley Cooper (COL '97), Clayton Lord (CAS '03), Jamie Gahlon (SFS '07), Isaiah Wooden (COL '04) and many others.

Where were most slaves sold in America?

The sales took place all over the growing nation — in taverns, town squares and train stations, on riverbanks and by the side of the road. Before being sold, the enslaved were often kept in pens or private jails, sometimes for days or weeks. Then they were sold directly from the pens or marched to a nearby auction.

Why is Georgetown University so famous?

Georgetown is consistently ranked in the top 30 national universities, and its rigorous admissions reflects that. Georgetown's programs in politics, law, international relations, and especially programs within the School of Foreign Service (SFS) have similar admissions requirements to the Ivies.

What did Harvard do with slaves?

Among the findings in the 134-page report conducted by Harvard faculty, Harvard presidents, faculty, and staff enslaved more than 70 people in the 17th and 18th centuries, some of whom labored on campus. Harvard continued to benefit from donations from plantation owners and other trade involving slave labor.

Who was the first black student at Georgetown?

In fact, Georgetown did not even admit its first black student, Samuel Halsey Jr., until the late 40s/early 50s. In the Centennial celebration of his rise to the Presidency in 1973, the University finally publicly acknowledged Patrick Francis Healy's black heritage in the programming around the event.

Can I go to Georgetown if I'm not Catholic?

But with the largest and most diverse Campus Ministry in the United States, Georgetown is committed to serving students of all religious and non-religious backgrounds in their intellectual and spiritual formation and deepening interreligious dialogue and understanding.

Why are Georgetown students called Hoya's?

The team name is derived from the mixed Greek and Latin chant "Hoya Saxa" (meaning "What Rocks"), which gained popularity at the school in the late nineteenth century. The name "Hoyas" came into use in the 1920s. Most teams have their athletic facilities on the main campus of Georgetown University.

Is Georgetown University still Catholic?

Our Legacy. Established in 1789, Georgetown is the nation's oldest Catholic and Jesuit university. Drawing upon the 450-year-old legacy of Jesuit education, we provide students with a world-class learning experience focused on educating the whole person through exposure to different faiths, cultures and beliefs.

How many slaves did the Jesuits own?

In exchange, they would receive 272 slaves from the four Jesuit plantations in southern Maryland, constituting nearly all of the slaves owned by the Maryland Jesuits. Johnson and Batey were to be held jointly and severally liable and each additionally identified a responsible party as a guarantor.

How many slaves did the Jesuits have?

In 1838, the Jesuits sold 272 enslaved people, which helped save what is now Georgetown University from bankruptcy and helped stabilize the Jesuits in Maryland.

Who were the first slaves sold in America?

First enslaved Africans arrive in Jamestown, setting the stage for slavery in North America. On August 20, 1619, “20 and odd” Angolans, kidnapped by the Portuguese, arrive in the British colony of Virginia and are then bought by English colonists.

What is the reputation of Georgetown University?

Georgetown University is ranked #22 out of 439 National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

Why is Georgetown endowment so low?

As the joke goes, the Jesuits thought God would always take care of Georgetown, and that we had no need for money. The other respondent is right: Georgetown thought it didn't need to develop a serious permanent endowment for a long time, and we didn't start on that project until the past 20-30 years or so.

Is Georgetown College LGBTQ friendly?

Higher Education Today praises Georgetown University for its anti-discrimination policies towards gender identity and sexual orientation, making it one of the more LGBTQ friendly colleges.