Sale of Free Negroes in the South Before the Civil War

Freedom was a precarious state for Blacks before the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment. Free Blacks were sold at auction if they fell behind in paying their taxes.

Alexandria Gazette
Tuesday, Aug 21, 1860
Alexandria, VA
Vol: LXI
Issue: 199

free negroes sale.JPG
Macon Telegraph
Saturday, Aug 18, 1860
Macon, GA
Issue: 171
Page: 1

free sale.JPG
Feature illustration: Eyre Crowe, Slaves Waiting for Sale, Richmond, Virginia, 1861
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Author: Patrick Young

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