Existing comment:
Contested History:
Auction blocks tell an unvarnished truth. But as iconic objects of slavery, they are often viewed with great skepticism. Slave auction ads and statements from observers help authenticate these objects across the United States. Yet slavery remains an emotionally charged subject, and even the most thoroughly documented artifacts are still contested.
The Hagerstown Auction Block:
Many African Americans, it is believed, were sold from this block as slaves, fugitives, and kidnapped free men, women, and children. Hagerstown, Maryland, was a hotbed of fugitive slave activity and slave trading. Because it was so close to Pennsylvania, a free state, the local sheriff made money by capturing and selling accused fugitives. Ads announced the sales of enslaved people in the courthouse and in the jail yard, common sites for slave auctions in most states. |