Resistance, Myths, and Legacies

The story of slavery is not just about labor—it is about power, resistance, and the stories we choose to tell.

In popular culture, slavery has often been misrepresented. The myth of the “happy slave,” seen in characters like the Mammy or Sambo, made slavery seem less brutal and easier for white audiences to accept. Romanticized stories—like Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings—are often told as love stories. But Hemings was enslaved, and Jefferson owned her. What does it mean to call such a relationship consensual when one person has absolute power over the other?

Slavery was also a business. Enslaved people were bought and sold like livestock, with their skills, age, and even physical traits listed on auction blocks. Families were torn apart, women were forced to bear children, and children themselves were sold, sometimes as young as two years old.

Yet enslaved people resisted—in ways large and small. From escape attempts to spiritual gatherings, from work slowdowns to rebellions, they found ways to claim dignity and agency in a system designed to deny them both.

Finally, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring enslaved people in rebelling states free. And in 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery throughout the nation. Still, its legacies—racism, inequality, and injustice—remain with us today.

Modern slavery also continues worldwide, with millions trapped in forced labor. The fight for freedom is not finished.

Thought Prompt:

As you stand in this space, think about the stories we inherit. Whose voices have been silenced, and whose have been amplified? What responsibility do we have to carry forward the stories of those who resisted and survived?

Thank you for walking with us through this history. Slavery is not an easy story to tell, nor is it an easy story to hear. But by engaging with it, we honor those who lived it and ensure their struggles are not forgotten.