EJI Dedicates Historical Markers in Montgomery About Slavery in America

12.10.13

Bryan Stevenson (right), Chris Chalk, and Frazine Taylor of the Black Heritage Council, which sponsored the markers in partnership with EJI, unveiled the marker located outside EJI’s building at 122 Commerce Street.

EJI dedicated historical markers documenting the Montgomery slave trade today in coordination with the release of Slavery in America: The Montgomery Slave Trade, which extensively documents the nature of slavery in America, slave trading practices in Montgomery, and the post-slavery experience.

EJI partnered with the Black Heritage Council of the Alabama Historical Commission to sponsor three historical markers in downtown Montgomery that memorialize the domestic slave trade that flourished in this city.

The markers were dedicated today, following a reception and panel discussion with cast from 12 Years a Slave, the critically-acclaimed film based on the true story of a free Black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841 as part of the domestic slave trade.

The practice of kidnapping free Black people and selling them into slavery was a feature of Montgomery’s slave trade that is documented in EJI’s report.

Over 100 community members attended the dedication