- Available now
- New eBook additions
- New kids additions
- New teen additions
- Most popular
- Try something different
- See all
- Available now
- New audiobook additions
- New kids additions
- New teen additions
- Most popular
- Try something different
- See all
The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church
Starred review from August 1, 2023
NYU journalism professor Swarns (American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama) presents a sobering examination of the causes and ramifications of the 1838 U.S. sale of 272 people enslaved by Jesuit priests. The proceeds of the sale were used to support Georgetown College, now known as Georgetown University. Expanding upon a 2016 story she wrote for the New York Times, Swarns reveals that for more than a century, the Jesuit order used the proceeds from buying and selling enslaved people to fund its buildings, sustain its clergy, and drive expansion. Swarns's work centers on Jeremy Alexander and Melissa Kemp, who learned about their common ancestors, Anna and Louisa Mahoney, sisters who were separated by the 1838 sale. Their inquiries initiated heated discussions regarding reparations for descendants of people enslaved to keep the institution afloat. Narrator Karen Murray's somber, solid reading impressively conveys the significance of this vital work. VERDICT A powerfully told story about the little-known connections between the Catholic Church and the people they trafficked. Pair with Ana Lucia Araujo's Reparations for Slavery and the Slave Trade or Nikole Hannah-Jones's The 1619 Project. Highly recommended for all libraries.--Dale Farris
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Availability can change throughout the month based on the library's budget. You can still place a hold on the title, and your hold will be automatically filled as soon as the title is available again.
The OverDrive Read format of this ebook has professional narration that plays while you read in your browser. Learn more here.
Your session has expired. Please sign in again so you can continue to borrow titles and access your Loans, Wish list, and Holds pages.
If you're still having trouble, follow these steps to sign in.
Add a library card to your account to borrow titles, place holds, and add titles to your wish list.
Have a card? Add it now to start borrowing from the collection.
The library card you previously added can't be used to complete this action. Please add your card again, or add a different card. If you receive an error message, please contact your library for help.