Georgetown University renames buildings for enslaved people

WASHINGTON – Georgetown University and the group of Catholic priests that founded the Washington, D.C. school have apologized for selling slaves in 1838 in order to raise money to pay off the college’s debts.

The school has renamed two buildings in honour of two of the 272 people sold. Their descendants gathered on the Georgetown campus for a dedication ceremony Tuesday.

One building is named Isaac Hawkins Hall in honour of the first person listed in documents related to the sale. Another bears the name of Anne Marie Becraft, a free woman of colour who taught Catholic black girls in Georgetown.

Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States president Rev. Timothy Kesicki said during a prayer service that the group has “greatly sinned” and is “profoundly sorry.”

Georgetown is also offering a preference in admissions to descendants of those sold.