Georgetown Tries To Grapple With An Evil Past

In this summer’s Democratic Convention, Michelle Obama brought tears to the audience’s eyes when she spoke about her experience waking up every morning in the White House, a house built by slaves. But the White House wasn’t the only institution that profited from the evils of slavery. Georgetown University published a report yesterday on how the Jesuit Institution used slaves, focusing on the sale of 272 slaves in 1838 for $3.3 million in 2016 dollars that the university used to pay off its debts. In an attempt to make amends, the University gave a formal apology and announced that it would offer an admission boost to the descendants of people whom Georgetown enslaved, treating them the same way they treat the children of alumni or faculty. They also announced the naming of one of its halls after Isaac, one of the people sold in 1838. The question remains though: is that enough?

Good Read: The Case For Reparations By Ta-Nehisi Coats