The Largest Recorded Slave Auction in America

 

There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3: 28-29 NRSV

It must be nearly a decade now since my brother proposed a road trip to the United States with a goal of spending time in Savannah Georgia. Along the way we made a number side trips, including Charleston, South Carolina. A visit to the tourist information centre sent us searching for the Old Slave Mart Museum. https://oldslavemartmuseum.com/

Part of the description of this grim reminder of slavery in America offers: 

Possibly the only known building used as a slave auction site in South Carolina still in existence, the Old Slave Mart was once a part of a larger complex of buildings which consisted of a yard enclosed by a high brick wall, a four-story brick building known as a barracoon, a slave jail, a kitchen and a dead house.Auctions of the enslaved ended in November 1863. 

The displays of this museum were fascinating and sobering but it was the knowledge that this was the actual site of place where human beings were bought and sold might have had the greatest impact. If my recollection is correct, I blogged about this experience upon my return.

A few days ago I read a news story about what is described as the stunning discovery by a graduate student, Lauren Davila  of a newspaper ad from 1835 slave auction in Charlston. It was unique in that this was the largest auction of its kind on record:

“This day, the 24th instant, and the day following, at the North Side of the Custom-House, at 11 o’clock, will be sold, a very valuable GANG OF NEGROES, accustomed to the culture of rice; consisting of SIX HUNDRED.”

This number exceeded any other known record by nearly 200. Charlston was the port for roughly 40% of arrivals of enslaved persons in the United States, so in a way the magnitude of this auction shouldn't be surprising. It is another stunning reminder of the scope of human suffering which was normalized in the States and in Canada. 

There is a lot of soul-searching going on in this country about our history of slavery, even though Canada become a terminus for the Underground Railroad, the route for escaped enslaved people. The iconic Harriet Tubman, who may yet be featured on the American 20 dollar bill, lived in southern Ontaro for a decade and there is a public school named for her in St. Catherines. 

Still, slavery existed here, and as with the US, it was often supported by Christians who found passages of scripture to support this terrible practice, even as other Christians worked tirelessly to end it. The supporters seem to have ignored the verses in the apostle Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia. 

              

                Statue of Harriet Tubman in front of St. Catharines'  Harriet Tubman Public School

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