This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/opinion/the-slaves-in-georgetowns-past.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
The Slaves in Georgetown’s Past The Slaves in Georgetown’s Past
(about 11 hours later)
To the Editor:To the Editor:
Re “Georgetown Confronts Its Role in Nation’s Slave Trade” (front page, April 17):Re “Georgetown Confronts Its Role in Nation’s Slave Trade” (front page, April 17):
Some Georgetown University professors, students and alumni are asking the university to compensate the descendants of slaves the university sold in 1838 to avoid bankruptcy.Some Georgetown University professors, students and alumni are asking the university to compensate the descendants of slaves the university sold in 1838 to avoid bankruptcy.
Rather than singling out the blood relatives of those particular victims, Georgetown should recognize that the institution of slavery affected and continues to affect the entire African-American community.Rather than singling out the blood relatives of those particular victims, Georgetown should recognize that the institution of slavery affected and continues to affect the entire African-American community.
Georgetown should instead set aside funds to reduce the tuition of all African-American students whose forebears were enslaved.Georgetown should instead set aside funds to reduce the tuition of all African-American students whose forebears were enslaved.
GEORGE SOROSGEORGE SOROS
New YorkNew York
The writer is the founder of the Open Society Foundations.The writer is the founder of the Open Society Foundations.
To the Editor:To the Editor:
How despicable. Georgetown University owned, then sold its black slaves for the equivalent of about $3.3 million in today’s dollars. Present-day students deserve praise for pressing Georgetown to remove from buildings the names of two Jesuit presidents who oversaw the sale.How despicable. Georgetown University owned, then sold its black slaves for the equivalent of about $3.3 million in today’s dollars. Present-day students deserve praise for pressing Georgetown to remove from buildings the names of two Jesuit presidents who oversaw the sale.
A Georgetown alumnus, I’ve known nothing about this tragic history. After graduating in 1957, I did learn that a Jesuit, Patrick Healy, was born of a former slave woman in Georgia (in 1834, before the sale), became the first African-American to earn a Ph.D., and even became the university’s dynamic president by 1874.A Georgetown alumnus, I’ve known nothing about this tragic history. After graduating in 1957, I did learn that a Jesuit, Patrick Healy, was born of a former slave woman in Georgia (in 1834, before the sale), became the first African-American to earn a Ph.D., and even became the university’s dynamic president by 1874.
Georgetown began turning a new leaf. Let’s finish the job with fair compensation to the slaves’ descendants.Georgetown began turning a new leaf. Let’s finish the job with fair compensation to the slaves’ descendants.
TINO CALABIATINO CALABIA
Chevy Chase, Md.Chevy Chase, Md.
To the Editor:To the Editor:
Historians have known for years about the American Jesuits’ sale of their slaves in 1838, including the fact that no real effort was made to sell the enslaved people to Catholic planters who would allow them to continue to practice their Catholic faith.Historians have known for years about the American Jesuits’ sale of their slaves in 1838, including the fact that no real effort was made to sell the enslaved people to Catholic planters who would allow them to continue to practice their Catholic faith.
But what a marvelous undertaking: to track down not just the full story of what happened to the slaves but also the story of their descendants.But what a marvelous undertaking: to track down not just the full story of what happened to the slaves but also the story of their descendants.
This is how all universities that are being prompted to confront their morally fraught pasts should respond; this is the kind of response that the students responsible for the provocations should be demanding.This is how all universities that are being prompted to confront their morally fraught pasts should respond; this is the kind of response that the students responsible for the provocations should be demanding.
Taking a name off a building or a family crest off a seal is a meaningless gesture with no long-term effect, and I simply do not understand why administrators and students don’t see that.Taking a name off a building or a family crest off a seal is a meaningless gesture with no long-term effect, and I simply do not understand why administrators and students don’t see that.
Well done, Georgetown. And kudos to the alumnus who is helping you. You are modeling a sophisticated response to a difficult but long-overdue challenge — a response that reveals the seriousness with which you are accepting the challenge by being the embodiment of what universities do.Well done, Georgetown. And kudos to the alumnus who is helping you. You are modeling a sophisticated response to a difficult but long-overdue challenge — a response that reveals the seriousness with which you are accepting the challenge by being the embodiment of what universities do.
MAURA JANE FARRELLYMAURA JANE FARRELLY
Waltham, Mass.Waltham, Mass.
The writer, an associate professor of American studies at Brandeis University, is the author of “Papist Patriots: The Making of an American Catholic Identity.”The writer, an associate professor of American studies at Brandeis University, is the author of “Papist Patriots: The Making of an American Catholic Identity.”
To the Editor:To the Editor:
So much about the story of Georgetown University and slavery merits reflection. It exemplifies slavery’s centrality in American history, but also reveals the transitory nature of historical memory.So much about the story of Georgetown University and slavery merits reflection. It exemplifies slavery’s centrality in American history, but also reveals the transitory nature of historical memory.
As a Georgetown student in the mid-1970s, I learned of the university’s slave past in a course on Jesuit studies that included a trip to the plantations in southern Maryland. Professors in the history department spoke openly about slavery’s role in sustaining the university.As a Georgetown student in the mid-1970s, I learned of the university’s slave past in a course on Jesuit studies that included a trip to the plantations in southern Maryland. Professors in the history department spoke openly about slavery’s role in sustaining the university.
Apparently that part of the university’s past fell out of consciousness, but now (laudably) is rediscovered and explored by current students at Georgetown. But on the other side of the country in California, my students at Sonoma State University have long known about the Maryland Jesuits and slavery.Apparently that part of the university’s past fell out of consciousness, but now (laudably) is rediscovered and explored by current students at Georgetown. But on the other side of the country in California, my students at Sonoma State University have long known about the Maryland Jesuits and slavery.
Thanks to the Jesuit Plantation Project, a digitized collection mounted by Georgetown’s American Studies Program 20 years ago, my students used the online documents to learn how to do historical research.Thanks to the Jesuit Plantation Project, a digitized collection mounted by Georgetown’s American Studies Program 20 years ago, my students used the online documents to learn how to do historical research.
Alas, over time the site was not migrated to newer platforms and does not seem to be available. Sic transit gloria mundi in the digital age. Historical memory is a fragile thing. Alas, the site is no longer available, although some of the materials can be found on a new website, the Georgetown Slavery Archive, created by the Georgetown University Working Group on Slavery, Memory and Reconciliation. Sic transit gloria mundi in the digital age. Historical memory is a fragile thing.
KATHLEEN M. NOONANKATHLEEN M. NOONAN
Rohnert Park, Calif.
The writer is chairwoman of the history department at Sonoma State University.The writer is chairwoman of the history department at Sonoma State University.