These 22 Unbelievable Ads For American Slaves From The 19th Century Will Infuriate You

From ancient times to the present day, slavery was a part of many different cultures, nationalities and religions. It was first mentioned in the earliest records, such as the Mesopotamian Code Of Hammurabi (c. 1860 BC), and it can unfortunately still be found in some countries around the world. Although the legal positions of slaves have differed in different times and places, today slavery is no longer legal anywhere in the world. However, in some form or another, it still appears.

The Americas are not an exception here. In the USA it was a legal institution in most states during 18th and 19th centuries. Before the law to prohibit the slave trade was enacted, they were treated like any other commodity you might buy. There were times when slaves were sold to the person who bid the most for them. Sometimes, it also destroyed families since the bidder only wanted to buy the strongest and healthiest family member.

As shocking as it sounds, when the slave ship was about to arrive, the ads for auctions where slaves could be bought appeared all over the city in the form of posters. You can see some of them below, but we must warn you – they’re not for the fainthearted. (h/t)

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