They were Catholic religious women, dedicated to educating children, treating the sick and helping the poor and enslaved in pre-Civil War America. But when they attempted to enter and live in convents, they were turned away — because they were black.
Raphael Civil, a student at St. John’s University, wasn’t aware of Black Catholic History Month until very recently but he became a quick study. After reading up on the subject, Civil stepped up to help school administrators organize the campus celebration.
