Descendants of Slaves Sold by GU Will Enroll

A brother and sister who descended from slaves sold in 1838, the proceeds benefiting the fledging Georgetown College, will enroll as Georgetown University students this fall thanks to a new legacy-admissions policy.

From Louisiana, Shepard Thomas, 19, will study engineering in Georgetown College; Elizabeth Thomas, 23, will study journalism in the School of Continuing Studies. The story was first reported by Rachel Swarns of the New York Times.

The university’s reconciliation effort — which has seen buildings renamed and a public apology, as well as a reunion of descendants at the main campus — acknowledges that the sale of 272 slaves by Maryland Jesuits helped pay off the school’s debts, ensuring its financial future.

The Thomas siblings’ great-great-grandparents, Sam Harris and Betsy Ware Harris, were among those sold by the Jesuits in 1838 to plantations in Louisiana.

“D.C. is where my whole history begins,” Elizabeth Thomas told USA Today College. “It’s a sad beginning, but now, the circle of life has brought us back here and given us an amazing opportunity to further our education at a prestigious school.”

Thomas also said that she believes the university can do more than simply preferential admission treatment for descendants, perhaps by offering scholarships. After several years of discussions, meeting, reunions and renamed buildings, Georgetown University formally apologized for its part in the slave trade in April.