#BlackHistoryMonth is about spotlighting the extraordinary contributions of Black Americans to history, and that starts with an understanding of the tremendous obstacles that racism has put in their way. In this video, DTRF President and CEO Monique Trusclair Maddox shares the story of how she grappled with learning that her ancestors were enslaved by the Catholic Church — and how she has turned anguish into action toward building a better future.
My name is Monique Trosclair Maddox. And I am a descendant of Catholics slaveholding. All four of my grandparents descend from this history. In April of 2016, I was leaving Mass at Our Lady of Grace. On that Palm Sunday, I was greeted with an article from the New York Times that talked about Jark, Georgetown's ties to slavery. Saw pictures in that article, Pictures of the cemetery where my father, my grandmother, my brother, my aunts. And uncles are buried. This is no longer curiosity, it's now personal. And I run upstairs to my mother and say, mom, look at this. Look at what is in this article. And she then looked at that manifest along with me and saw the names of people from our hometown. Though surnames were there but there were also first names. Those records were sent with my family on that slave manifest and my mother said look at this. Look at what our church has done. Week after week I went to Adoration and prayed about this. How could I look at my priests again? How could I stay in this church? You could find me an Adoration Chapel on my knees, praying for those priests who enslaved our families. Praying for my ancestors in how they kept the faith. Praying for understanding, wisdom, guidance, courage, consolation. This was the only way for me. That's what God told me in that moment and that is why I do this work. In order to teach this history, you have to acknowledge it, for one. And you have to be able to say. Yes, this may be uncomfortable. It may be related to my church. It may be something my family did, my family was a part of. But that's the only way you're going to heal. This is not a story of shame. This is a story that has the opportunity for a happy ending. A happy ending of reconciling, showing what reconciliation looks like in our church.
Director of Operations at EDUCO Web Design - Partnering with world builders in commercial construction, non-profits, and higher education to create innovative web and media solutions.
Director of Operations at EDUCO Web Design - Partnering with world builders in commercial construction, non-profits, and higher education to create innovative web and media solutions.
2moThis is such important work. Thank you for all that you do.