"Let Us Go Free": Slavery and Jesuit Universities in America

Jesuit colleges and seminaries in the United States supported themselves on the labor of enslaved people for over two hundred years. "Let Us Go Free" tells the stories of the free and enslaved people associated with these institutions, showing that Jesuits were typical slaveholders concerned with finances rather than spiritual and physical well-being. The book provides a vivid and disquieting narrative of Jesuit slaveholding and its historical relationship with Jesuit universities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2023
Publisher: Georgetown University Press

The Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, is widely recognized for the profound impact it has had on higher education. However, less attention is given to the less-known connection between Jesuit higher education and slavery. For over two hundred years, Jesuit colleges and seminaries in the United States relied on the labor of enslaved individuals to sustain themselves.

"Let Us Go Free" is a captivating book that delves into the intricate stories of both free and enslaved people who were associated with these Catholic institutions. Author Walker Gollar demonstrates that, despite their Catholic faith, Jesuits followed a pattern of slaveholding that was largely typical of their time. While they may have shown some concern for the spiritual and physical well-being of their enslaved, their primary focus was often on the financial prosperity of their plantations and farms.

Gollar traces the enduring legacies of the Jesuits' involvement in the slaveholding economy, shedding light on the experiences of those who were enslaved by the Jesuits. He also shares the Jesuits' efforts to come to terms with their history, exploring the complexities of their involvement and the challenges they faced in reconciling their religious beliefs with the practice of slavery.

"Let Us Go Free" is a meticulously researched work that draws extensively from original sources in Jesuit archives. It offers a vivid and disquieting narrative of Jesuit slaveholding for the general reader interested in exploring the historical relationship between slavery and universities in the United States. Through its detailed accounts and insightful analysis, the book provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of this complex and often overlooked aspect of American history.

Weight: 560g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781647123864