This poignant exhibition delves into the h arrowing realities of the domestic slave trade in the American South\, dra wing inspiration from Margaret Seidler&rsquo\;s revelatory book\, Payne-ful Business: Charle ston&rsquo\;s Journey to Truth\, and the evocative artworks of Jo hn W. Jones. Through a compelling blend of historical documents and visual art\, the exhibition sheds light on the human stories behind the commodif ication of enslaved individuals\, offering a profound exploration of a pai nful chapter in South Carolina and American history.
\n\nThis exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Partners in Racial Justice and the Gullah Geeche e Cultural Heritage Corridor. \; \; \; \; \;&n bsp\;
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| "A Likely Girl. " Painting by John W. Jones. | \nCity Gazette. Charleston\, South Carolina. 1824. | \n
Central to the exh ibition are authentic 19th-century slave advertisements\, meticulously res earched by Seidler\, a Charleston native who bravely confronts her family' s legacy of three generations of enslavers. These historical artifacts are brought to life through the vivid paintings of John W. Jones\, who reimag ines the lives and identities of those enslaved. Jones's artwork\, known f or its historical accuracy and emotional depth\, serves as a powerful coun ter-narrative to the sanitized depictions of slavery\, emphasizing the res ilience and humanity of the enslaved.
\nThe exhibit\, "To Be Sold: E nslaved Labor and Slave Trading in the Antebellum South\," allows visitors to have a transformative experience of the past in deeply moving and educ ational way while fostering a space for reflection and dialogue.
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Join us for the opening program\, "Cultural Conversa tion: A Bridge to Truth and Connection\," or one of the Community Dialogues supporting the exhibition.
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 | \n | \n\;Margaret Seidler \; \; | \nJohn W. Jones | \n\n
Author Margaret Seidler
Margaret Seidler
is a retired Organization &\; Leadership Development consultant and aut
hor from Charleston\, South Carolina. Her book\, Payne-ful Business: Charleston&rsquo\;s Jou
rney to Truth\, chronicles her journey of uncovering her family's
involvement in the slave trade. Through extensive research and introspect
ion\, Seidler shares the uncomfortable truths of her ancestry\, aiming to
contribute to a broader understanding of Charleston's racial history. Her
work has been featured on platforms such as The Chavis Chronicles\, where
she discusses the importance of acknowledging and reconciling with the pas
t to bridge today's racial divides.
Painter and Illustrato
r John W. Jones
John W. Jones is a self-taught American arti
st from Columbia\, South Carolina. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1970\, he
served in Vietnam\, where he became an Army Illustrator. Jones gained acc
laim for his series Confederate Currency: The Color of Money\, which exami
nes the portrayal of enslaved individuals on Confederate banknotes\, highl
ighting how enslavers used these images to normalize and propagate the ins
titution of slavery. His work often juxtaposes historical documents with v
ivid paintings\, offering a critical lens on America's past. Jones's art h
as been featured in numerous exhibitions and is part of several public and
private collections\, including the Martin Luther King\, Jr. National His
toric Site.
