College of Charleston unveils historical marker in downtown Charleston

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)–On Friday, the College of Charleston Center for the Study of Slavery unveiled a new historical marker recognizing the dark history of the slave trade in Charleston.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Charleston was a center point for the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, with millions of people brought on ships from Africa and sold at auctions in popular areas like East Bay and Broad Street.

In 1835, 24th Broad Street was home to a firm that handled the largest sale of enslaved people in United States history. While locals and tourists alike come to admire the beauty of the holy city, it’s essential to acknowledge the darker side of our past and learn from it.

“I’m from Charleston. I walked the street consistently. My offices are 100 yards away, and our history is left behind without these stores being told. Gaps were bridged today, so I’m standing for my ancestors. But we will leverage that and build an opportunity for a proper future,” said Brightma Farms’s CEO Harold Singletary.

The marker is set to honor the countless people who were sold and whose identities were taken—a spot for their descendants to connect with their history and pay tribute to their ancestors.

“A lot of our history was lost. I grew up in a segregated environment, where we were separated by race, and what I realize now is the International African American Museum coming online. At the College of Charleston Center for the Study of Slavery, we finally discuss what we never knew. I hope that other generations will understand and won’t lose their history. It will help us all be stronger,” said Margaret Seidler, an author and educator of American History.

Officials are welcoming the public to view the marker on 24th Broad Street, and for more details, visit charleston.edu.