Charleston, South Carolina – The International African American Museum in downtown Charleston will debut an exhibit next week that will act as a national archive for slavery-related family history.
The Speaking Truth exhibit, which opens on October 28, will include 52 testimonials from Americans describing their families’ ties to slavery, the damage it caused, and their aspirations to make apologies.
“The Center for Family History at the International African American Museum is delighted to have the opportunity to showcase this unique collection in its digital archives,” Jennifer Randall, programs manager and lead archivist for the museum’s Center for Family History, stated. “Not only do the videos open a truth-seeking dialogue for descendants of enslavers, but their stories showcase important pieces of historical and genealogical information that will be crucial for those researching the enslaved, especially their descendants.”
According to museum leaders, the collection of short movies includes individuals discussing their personal discoveries of family memories, letters, plantation ledgers, and wills that helped them begin their road of reconciliation.
Rea Bennett and Michael Zirulnik, citizens of Phoenix, Arizona, collaborated to collect Speaking Truth testimony from across the country as a way to atone for their own family histories. After looking for an international institution to permanently house the archive, they decided on Charleston.
The exhibit will be permanently placed in the Center for Family History, which will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
