“To Be Sold: Enslaved Labor and Slave Trading in the Antebellum South”
Opens at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center
September 6 – December 27, 2025 | Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale, FL — The African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) is proud to announce the opening of “To Be Sold: Enslaved Labor and Slave Trading in the Antebellum South”, a groundbreaking exhibition running from September 6 through December 27, 2025. Admission is free to the public.
Presented in collaboration with Partners in Racial Justice and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, this poignant exhibition shines a light on the brutal realities of the domestic slave trade in the American South, while honoring the resilience and humanity of those who endured it.
At the heart of the exhibition are authentic 19th-century slave advertisements, meticulously researched by Charleston native and author Margaret Seidler, who courageously confronts her family’s legacy of three generations of enslavers in her book Payne-ful Business: Charleston’s Journey to Truth. These historical documents are reimagined through the powerful artwork of John W. Jones, whose vivid paintings bring dignity and presence to the enslaved individuals once reduced to commodities.
Jones’s artwork—renowned for its historical accuracy and emotional depth—serves as a striking counter-narrative to sanitized depictions of slavery. Together, Seidler’s research and Jones’s artistry create an experience that is at once educational, deeply moving, and transformative, encouraging visitors to reflect, engage, and dialogue.
The exhibition will open with a special program, “Cultural Conversation: A Bridge to Truth and Connection,” inviting the community to come together in dialogue around history, memory, and healing. Additional Community Dialogues will be hosted throughout the exhibition’s run.
“This exhibition is not only about confronting painful truths—it’s about creating space for understanding and honoring the resilience of those whose voices history tried to silence,” said [insert spokesperson, e.g., AARLCC Director].
Event Details:
- Exhibition Dates: September 6 – December 27, 2025
- Opening Reception: September 6, 2025
- Location: African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
- Admission: Free and open to the public
- Phone: (954) 357-6282
For more information, please visit [AARLCC’s official site or Broward County Libraries link].
