Speaker Sessions - June 19th with Polly Sheppard, Margaret Seidler, and Jim W. Jones
For centuries, the Black church has been more than a place of worship—it has been a sanctuary, a gathering space, and a cornerstone of community resilience. In Charleston, few places embody this truth more deeply than Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Founded in 1816, the church has long stood as a beacon of strength for Black Charlestonians—through slavery, emancipation, and the long road toward justice.
On June 17, 2015, Mother Emanuel was again thrust into the national spotlight when a white supremacist opened fire during Bible study, killing nine worshippers. Polly Sheppard, a survivor of that fateful evening, has carried the weight of that night with grace and courage.
This Juneteenth, we invite you to an evening of reflection with Polly Sheppard as she shares her personal journey—from that harrowing night to her ongoing advocacy for peace and justice. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in moments of unspeakable darkness, light endures—and so does the fight for freedom.
Additionally, we welcome author Margaret Seidler and artist John W. Jones, collaborators on the award-winning book "Payne-ful" Business: Charleston’s Journey to Truth. Recipient of the Phyllis Wheatley Book Award, this powerful work unearths the hidden narratives behind Charleston’s role in the domestic slave trade.
Seidler shares her deeply personal and rigorously researched journey to confront her family’s history as brokers of thousands of enslaved individuals. Through her writing, she invites readers into a broader conversation about the city’s racial past and the scholars, journalists, and community members working to illuminate it.
Artist John W. Jones expands the conversation through evocative paintings based on archival slave sale ads—images that restore dignity and humanity to the people described in cold, transactional language. Following the talk, guests are invited on a guided walking tour of eight of Jones’s pieces displayed within Magnolia’s restored slave cabins—offering a vivid, immersive connection to the past.
Together, Seidler and Jones present a collaborative call to reflection: that by facing difficult truths, we can move toward healing and greater understanding across racial lines.
This program is supported by South Carolina Humanities, a not-for-profit organization; inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with programs on literature, history, culture and heritage. SC Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
This event will be held in the Carriage House! EVENT DETAILS.
For centuries, the Black church has been more than a place of worship—it has been a sanctuary, a gathering space, and a cornerstone of community resilience. In Charleston, few places embody this truth more deeply than Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Founded in 1816, the church has long stood as a beacon of strength for Black Charlestonians—through slavery, emancipation, and the long road toward justice.
On June 17, 2015, Mother Emanuel was again thrust into the national spotlight when a white supremacist opened fire during Bible study, killing nine worshippers. Polly Sheppard, a survivor of that fateful evening, has carried the weight of that night with grace and courage.
This Juneteenth, we invite you to an evening of reflection with Polly Sheppard as she shares her personal journey—from that harrowing night to her ongoing advocacy for peace and justice. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in moments of unspeakable darkness, light endures—and so does the fight for freedom.
Additionally, we welcome author Margaret Seidler and artist John W. Jones, collaborators on the award-winning book "Payne-ful" Business: Charleston’s Journey to Truth. Recipient of the Phyllis Wheatley Book Award, this powerful work unearths the hidden narratives behind Charleston’s role in the domestic slave trade.
Seidler shares her deeply personal and rigorously researched journey to confront her family’s history as brokers of thousands of enslaved individuals. Through her writing, she invites readers into a broader conversation about the city’s racial past and the scholars, journalists, and community members working to illuminate it.
Artist John W. Jones expands the conversation through evocative paintings based on archival slave sale ads—images that restore dignity and humanity to the people described in cold, transactional language. Following the talk, guests are invited on a guided walking tour of eight of Jones’s pieces displayed within Magnolia’s restored slave cabins—offering a vivid, immersive connection to the past.
Together, Seidler and Jones present a collaborative call to reflection: that by facing difficult truths, we can move toward healing and greater understanding across racial lines.
This program is supported by South Carolina Humanities, a not-for-profit organization; inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with programs on literature, history, culture and heritage. SC Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
This event will be held in the Carriage House! EVENT DETAILS.
For centuries, the Black church has been more than a place of worship—it has been a sanctuary, a gathering space, and a cornerstone of community resilience. In Charleston, few places embody this truth more deeply than Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Founded in 1816, the church has long stood as a beacon of strength for Black Charlestonians—through slavery, emancipation, and the long road toward justice.
On June 17, 2015, Mother Emanuel was again thrust into the national spotlight when a white supremacist opened fire during Bible study, killing nine worshippers. Polly Sheppard, a survivor of that fateful evening, has carried the weight of that night with grace and courage.
This Juneteenth, we invite you to an evening of reflection with Polly Sheppard as she shares her personal journey—from that harrowing night to her ongoing advocacy for peace and justice. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in moments of unspeakable darkness, light endures—and so does the fight for freedom.
Additionally, we welcome author Margaret Seidler and artist John W. Jones, collaborators on the award-winning book "Payne-ful" Business: Charleston’s Journey to Truth. Recipient of the Phyllis Wheatley Book Award, this powerful work unearths the hidden narratives behind Charleston’s role in the domestic slave trade.
Seidler shares her deeply personal and rigorously researched journey to confront her family’s history as brokers of thousands of enslaved individuals. Through her writing, she invites readers into a broader conversation about the city’s racial past and the scholars, journalists, and community members working to illuminate it.
Artist John W. Jones expands the conversation through evocative paintings based on archival slave sale ads—images that restore dignity and humanity to the people described in cold, transactional language. Following the talk, guests are invited on a guided walking tour of eight of Jones’s pieces displayed within Magnolia’s restored slave cabins—offering a vivid, immersive connection to the past.
Together, Seidler and Jones present a collaborative call to reflection: that by facing difficult truths, we can move toward healing and greater understanding across racial lines.
This program is supported by South Carolina Humanities, a not-for-profit organization; inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with programs on literature, history, culture and heritage. SC Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
This event will be held in the Carriage House! EVENT DETAILS.