Benjamin Bradlee Lecture featuring Rachel Swarns, Feb. 19

The 2026 Benjamin C. Bradlee Distinguished Lecture in Journalism 

Established by former Washington Post executive editor and College trustee Benjamin Bradlee, this lecture series has brought many notable journalists to St. Mary's College. Mr. Bradlee established this series to bring leading journalists to campus who carry on his legacy of commitment to a free press in a democratic society.

This year's lecture will feature journalist, author and professor, Rachel Swarns, who will discuss her book: "The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church."

The book tells the story of the nearly 300 enslaved people who were sold by a group of America’s most prominent Catholic priests in order to fund what would become Georgetown University. Swarns follows one family through almost two centuries of enslavement, uncovering not only the stories of these forgotten people, but also how the legacy of the slave trade still shapes our institutions—from banks to universities—today. She was interviewed on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross for her vital work, and the book has met with critical acclaim from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The New Yorker—landing on The New York Times 100 Notable Books, TIME 100 Must-Read Books, Kirkus 100 Best Nonfiction, and Washington Post 50 Notable Works of Nonfiction. The Washington Post writes that “'The 272' succeeds not only in its telling of a tragic story. Rachel Swarns centers the experiences of enslaved people owned by the Jesuits for nearly two centuries who remained largely unnamed and unknown until now.”

“Slavery is more than just history,” says Swarns. “It lives with us, all of us, now.” Schools, churches, and many of our most influential institutions are still deeply entwined with the legacy of racial injustice, and “we need to grapple with that history to find our way forward.” As the author of "The 272"—an acclaimed addition to our understanding of our national story that landed on TIME‘s Top 100 Must-Read Books—Swarns has prompted a country-wide reckoning into how we can transform our knowledge of the past to concrete action in the present. By revealing the compelling story of the families that were enslaved and sold by Catholic priests to build Georgetown University and the Catholic Church itself, she “advances the conversation and challenges the collective conscience” (The NYT). Through her dynamic, empathetic talks, Swarns offers audiences a fuller picture of slavery’s contemporary legacy. “It speaks to who we are, and how we got to where we are,” she says. “And it’s critical for our understanding of our nation’s racial divide—and for our hopes of one day transcending it.”

Swarns is an acclaimed journalist, author, and NYU professor who investigates the history of American slavery, examining how we live with this history and how it shapes who we are today. Through her critically acclaimed books and inspiring talks, she challenges us to work to overcome the legacy of racial injustice in our churches, schools, and communities. At a time when powerful politicians are working to prevent us from teaching and learning these stories, her work has never been more urgent.