Silencing Genocide: The Jesuit Ministry in Colonial Cartagena de Indias and its Legacy

Colonial Cartagena de Indias, a pivotal port in the transatlantic slave trade, was home to a Jesuit ministry that both ministered to enslaved Africans and perpetuated the destruction of African life through colonization and enslavement. This study reveals how the historical legacy of this ministry has contributed to the silencing of the atrocities committed during the slave trade, leading to a distorted understanding of the Catholic Church's and Jesuits' role in these destructive processes. The research focuses on key figures like Saint Peter Claver and Alonso de Sandoval, whose works have shaped scholarly narratives but also obscured the genocidal impact of enslavement. By analyzing primary sources and historical records, the study argues that the ministry's legacy continues to influence contemporary perceptions, reinforcing a narrative that downplays the Church's complicity in systemic violence.

Chamberlin, W. (. (2018). Silencing Genocide: The Jesuit Ministry in Colonial Cartagena de Indias and its Legacy. Journal of Black Studies, 49(7), 672–693. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021934718778718