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Gallery Walk of the “To Be Sold” Exhibition

Delve into the harrowing realities of the domestic slave trade in the American South with archivist Erin Purdy.

Join us for a Gallery Walk of “To Be Sold: Enslaved Labor and Slave Trading in the Antebellum South” at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC). Explore original archival materials created before the end of slavery and the modern artwork inspired by this chapter of American history, and engage with Broward County’s Library archivist Erin Purdy.

This poignant exhibition draws inspiration from Margaret Seidler’s revelatory book, Payne-ful Business: Charleston’s Journey to Truth, and the evocative artworks of John W. Jones. Through a compelling blend of original historical documents and Jones’ art, the exhibition sheds light on the human stories behind the commodification of enslaved individuals, offering a profound exploration of a painful chapter in South Carolina and American history.

Through the primary sources and the vivid paintings of John W. Jones, the sheer range of the talent and labor of enslaved Black people are centered. The skills of these enslaved people, and millions of others like them throughout the nation, fueled the US economy. Enslaved workers, however, were not able to profit from their own labor in any significant way. Worse, as demonstrated by the ads throughout the gallery, they continually faced the threat of sale, potentially separating them from their loved ones.

Complementing this story are original rare books and archival materials from the AARLCC Special Collections that highlight the ways in which enslaved people resisted slavery, retained their humanity and identity, and maintained their cultural heritage and community while living in a system designed to take those things away from them.

The exhibit, To Be Sold: Enslaved Labor and Slave Trading in the Antebellum South, allows visitors to have a transformative experience of the past in deeply moving and educational way while fostering a space for reflection and dialogue.

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