slavery
History of slaves sold for Georgetown detailed in new genealogical website
By Adelle M. Banks — June 21, 2019
(RNS) — The website includes a spreadsheet of 314 individuals whom genealogists have identified as being part of the group sold by the Jesuit priests.
Southern Baptist historic gavel a reminder of racist legacy
By Adelle M. Banks — June 13, 2019
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) — The so-called 1872 Broadus gavel, which calls to order a church body that has sought racial reconciliation within its ranks, is named for slaveholder John A. Broadus.
Southern Baptist seminary denies request for reparations
By Adelle M. Banks — June 5, 2019
(RNS) — EmpowerWest, a coalition of black and white pastors in Louisville, Ky., where the seminary is located, recently contacted seminary officials with their request.
New play ‘American Griot’ explores blues music’s Muslim and African roots
By Aysha Khan — March 5, 2019
PALOS HILLS, Ill. (RNS) – A musical play explores the shared history of Islam, Africa and blues music through the eyes of an enslaved storyteller-musician.
Biblical guide marks 400 years since enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia
By Adelle M. Banks — February 27, 2019
WASHINGTON (RNS) — 'Lament and Hope, a Pan-African Devotional Guide' was produced by Bread for the World and is set to be dedicated at a prayer service at a Washington church on the last day of Black History Month.
Rare autobiography of Muslim slave goes online via Library of Congress
By Aysha Khan — January 17, 2019
(RNS) – The only known existing autobiography of a slave written in Arabic in America is now freely available to researchers and the public online.
Report on slavery is only a start for Southern Baptists’ reckoning with racism
By Jemar Tisby — December 14, 2018
(RNS) — A new report detailing the history of slavery and racism at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary ends more than 50 years too soon.
Southern Baptist seminary report ties founders to slaveholding, white supremacy
By Adelle M. Banks — December 12, 2018
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (RNS) — The seminary released a 71-page report Wednesday that says its early trustees and faculty 'defended the righteousness of slaveholding.'
Southern Baptist seminary report ties founders to slaveholding, white supremacy
By Adelle M. Banks — December 12, 2018
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (RNS) The seminary released a 71-page report Wednesday that says its early trustees and faculty 'defended the righteousness of slaveholding.'
Museum highlights ‘Slave Bible’ that focuses on servitude, leaves out freedom
By Adelle M. Banks — November 27, 2018
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The so-called Slave Bible, on loan from Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., excludes 90 percent of the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, and 50 percent of the New.
Cardinal Dolan makes good points but ignores politics of abortion
By Thomas Reese — June 14, 2018
(RNS) — While Cardinal Dolan and I agree that the bishops are consistently pro-life, other groups, including many Republican politicians, are only pro-life when it comes to restricting abortion, not when it comes to government programs to help women.
Legal scholar Khaled Beydoun says it’s time to finally define Islamophobia
By Aysha Khan — April 2, 2018
(RNS) — Khaled Beydoun develops a framework for understanding Islamophobia through his examinations of its ties to American policy.
Jewish organizations encourage retelling the Passover story with trivia cards
By RNS staff — March 26, 2018
(RNS) — Did you know that Jews from Gibraltar sprinkle brick dust into their Passover haroset dish, or that Middle Eastern Jewish families whip themselves with scallions at the seder table?
Harriet Tubman’s Canadian church seeks help for repairs
By Adelle M. Banks — November 3, 2017
(RNS) — The 11 members of Salem Chapel have started a crowdsourcing campaign to shore up the building, which sits just north of Niagara Falls.
We’ve condemned white nationalism. Now the harder work begins.
By Noel Schoonmaker — August 17, 2017
(RNS) — 'Decrying white nationalists is an ethical lay-up for which no white person should feel the slightest hint of self-congratulatory pride,' writes the Rev. Noel Schoonmaker.
