Charleston Unveils New Memorial to Commemorate City’s Historic Ties to Slavery

Charleston Marks Historic Connection to Slavery with New Memorial

In the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, a city steeped in rich, layered history, a significant moment is on the horizon. The past, particularly the dark realities of slavery, is being unearthed through the dedicated efforts of the College of Charleston and its Center for the Study of Slavery. This Friday, the community will gather to unveil a historical marker that sheds light on a crucial part of Charleston’s past—its role in the slave trade.

Uncovering the Connections

Dr. Bernard Powers, a knowledgeable historian and the center’s founding director, has devoted his work to uncovering the stories that have long been hidden. “When people think about slavery, they automatically think about plantations,” he explains. “They think about manual labor and so on and so forth. You would not necessarily think about a university. But universities have played roles in connection to slavery.” This perspective opens up a larger dialogue about how institutions collaborate with history, particularly the legacy of slavery, and its far-reaching consequences that linger even today.

The College of Charleston is part of an initiative known as the Universities Understanding Slavery Consortium, which includes 104 universities worldwide, working towards understanding and revealing the deep connections between slavery and higher education. Dr. Powers points out that in Charleston, much of this significant history remains undiscovered. “We need to help people understand how pervasive the domestic slave trade was and what a critically important role it played for the development of Charleston, South Carolina, the U.S., and the world,” he says.

A Significant Discovery

A breakthrough came in 2022 when College of Charleston graduate student Lauren Davila made an important discovery, revealing a clearer connection between the university and slavery. The upcoming unveiling will recognize the site where, in 1835, around 600 enslaved individuals were sold—one of the largest slave auctions recorded in American history. The marker will be prominently placed at 24 Broad Street, marking the exact location of these troubling events.

Marking History, Educating the Future

Dr. Powers shares his excitement about the unveiling, stating, “What we’re going to be doing on Friday is the unveiling of a marker at 24 Broad Street—which will for the first time mark the activities that occurred in this place, so that people in the community who are passing by will have a better sense of the history of this place.” The marker will highlight how human trafficking was painfully prevalent in this location, now occupied by the Schmutz and Schmutz Law Firm.

The owner of the building, Steve Schmutz, was entirely unaware of the building’s historical significance before being contacted by Dr. Powers. “He was very interested in learning more,” Dr. Powers notes, indicating a collaborative effort to embrace this piece of history.

Educating, Not Embarrassing

The marker serves a purpose beyond mere acknowledgment. “The goal of the marker is to educate, not embarrass,” Dr. Powers explains. There’s an ongoing debate about such markers, as some voices argue against highlighting troubling aspects of history. However, Dr. Powers stands firm: “You cannot forget the past. You cannot disconnect where we are today in the present from the past because the past has shaped where we are now, and it will have a lot to do with forming the course of our future.”

Join the Unveiling

This Friday’s event is not just about a marker; it is a community gathering aimed at recognizing and reflecting on a painful, yet essential, aspect of Charleston’s history. The unveiling ceremony will commence at 10 a.m. at 24 Broad Street, where a brief program is planned.

As Charleston takes this significant step to acknowledge its past, it invites everyone to join in understanding and learning from history, shaping a more informed future.