Slavery, History, Memory and Reconciliation

The 1619 Project has its advocates and its critics, but the fact that slavery is a part of American history is undeniable. Less well known is the role that communities of faith had in not only the abolition of slavery but also the owning of enslaved African Americans.

Members of the Society of Jesus, a men’s Catholic religious order better known as the Jesuits, did employ slaves in many states, including Pennsylvania, before the abolition of slavery in the United States. Because this is a little known part of Jesuit history, and even though certainly something of which Jesuits today are ashamed, The Slavery, History, Memory, and Reconciliation Project (SHMR) is supported by the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States and “motivated by a desire to uncover the truth of people’s stories, to honor their memories and heal relationships.”

If this sounds interesting, there is the opportunity to hear the Project Coordinator, Research Coordinator, and an Advisory Committee member, “discuss the connections being made with descendants of the enslaved, community members and scholars, the research needed to facilitate these conversations, and communication with all stakeholders on what transformative solutions might look like.”

This panel discussion will be the keynote at the virtual annual meeting of the Catholic Research Resources Alliance (CRRA) Thursday, May 7, 2020, 2 p.m. There is no registration fee for this Webinar and participation is open to all. You just need to sign up to attend.