Racism in the Catholic Church in the 19th century reflected the attitude of many Americans towards people of color. Slavery, the Civil War, and the Period of Reconstruction challenged people to reconcile their religious beliefs with their social behavior. With that background the talk will address the life of an escaped slave whose father fought in the Civil War: his challenging journey to become the first African-America priest in the United States.

calendar.libraryweb.org/event/6435943