GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY has issued a long-anticipated report on what it should do to reconcile the Catholic institution to its historical ties to slavery. The university is taking several steps immediately, notably giving preferential status in admissions to descendants of enslaved people whose labor benefited Georgetown, which is a move in the right direction and a sign of the school’s sincerity. But those are first steps only; as the university acknowledges, more will be needed. Widening college access is particularly critical; we hope Georgetown lives up to its promise to engage and collaborate with slave descendants, some of whom were unhappy with exclusion from the working group. These are real people whose fates have been affected: That presents Georgetown with both a burden and an opportunity.

Source: Washington Post September 01, 2016 23:26 UTC