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Let’s Attend a Slave Auction

© Mary M. Alward

Imagine you live in Maryland in the year 1854. You are an abolitionist. You hate slavery, but feel that you need to keep up with the times. There is a slave auction at the local auction house. You decide to go. You know that slavery is wrong. All men are created equal. Still, you think you need to go and find out who else is attending.

You enter the auction house and scan the crowd. Many people have come. You recognize the local banker, the owner of the mercantile, (general store) the preacher of the local church, the judge and a number of plantation owners.

The auctioneer is on the auction block. He waves his hand. A young mother carrying a small boy is pulled onto the block. She is crying and pulling to get away.

"Please don't sell me away from my family," she begs her master.

The man ignores her pleas. The auctioneer starts the sale.

"What am I bid for this lovely specimen? She's been trained as a house slave. She cooks, sews and is healthy. She's obedient and has no history of running."

A man in the front row bids $200.00. He needs a new house slave for his wife. When the boy grows up he will make a good field hand. (slave who worked in the fields.) The man is a plantation owner and is always looking for slaves. Slaves make him money. They keep his family comfortable by tending to their every need.

As you look around, the bidding is going higher. A man in the back has offered $500.00 for the mother and son. You notice the banker smiling. His job depends on the slave trade. The owner of the slave owes him money. If the sale goes well, he will be paid in full. Though he doesn't like slavery, he won't voice an opinion on the subject. If his friends find out he is an abolitionist, like you, they will not keep company with him anymore. If the bank finds out he is opposed (against) to slavery they will fire him. He will be ostracized (ignored) by everyone in the community. So, he hides his hatred of the slave trade to protect himself.

You glance over at the man who is selling the woman and child. He's rubbing his hands together in delight. He's happy the sale is progressing (going) so well. He needs cash to pay a debt to the banker. He ignores the woman who is begging him not to sell her. After all, paying his debts is more important than keeping her with her family. He likes slavery. It brings him lots of money.

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