Who is Really Free?: Gonzaga Poets Respond to the Call for Social Justice

4 The Question By: Kadari Machen ‘22 I wrote this poem after studying Gonzaga’s history with slavery in Mr. Donellan’s history class.

The question in this poem was posted by Aiden Rafferty to Georgetown’s Professor Rothman in 2016. His question inspired two years of research and deepened our understanding of the untold history of Gonzaga.

Are you aware of any connections between Gonzaga and Slavery?

I’m sure some knew the answer right away, But feared the consequences if they say, Knowing the school would be in dismay, Hoping that if they stay silent, the hunters would be led astray Are you aware of any connections between Gonzaga and Slavery?

A question, Concealed behind a wall of fear and ignorance.

Nobody dared to crack it.

Do we want to know?

Are you aware of any connections between Gonzaga and Slavery?

An answer, Buried under grief and agony.

An answer, That would break the utopia of Gonzaga.

Jesuits: holy, benevolent, Christian Jesuits: harsh, cruel, slave owners The top 5% nationally.

Not participants, but leaders Of a system meant to oppress, degrade, and break a race.

A race forced to pay the toll of American geographic and economic expansion Used as a means, But why am I not surprised, We were never treated equally, our whole lives