Files
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Date of Award
Fall 2023
Exhibition Date
11-2023
Description
View the Digital Exhibition of Kinship Bonds
In 1856, the will of a Calhoun County landowner included his desired outcome for the 14 enslaved persons held in his possession. As a descendant of this enslaver, I sought to uncover more about those enslaved persons and their lives. The resulting exhibition, Kinship Bonds, contextualizes national and local history into the lives of the people connected to one small Calhoun County plantation between the years 1850-1880.
Kinship Bonds creates a narrative for the many people who were dehumanized and oppressed through the South’s “peculiar” institution. By using historical documents and gleanings from local newspapers of the era, viewers can examine the beliefs and attitudes that informed the residents of Calhoun County. Biographical sketches of known Calhoun County enslaved persons provide a glimpse into the struggles and obstacles of life post-Emancipation. Kinship Bonds offers viewers an opportunity to come to a deeper understanding of our county’s history and reflect on the legacy of social injustices.