Payne-ful Business: Charleston’s Journey to Truth; a personal story of reconciling hard truths

The discovery of slave traders in the family who brokered the sale of more than 10,000 enslaved people in both the transatlantic and domestic slave trades was life-changing. The presentation includes a representation of the 34 paintings from the book by African American artist, John W. Jones, who takes the black and white historical newspaper ads and brings to life the people who built Charleston and beyond. My belief is that we can build a stronger South Carolina through history. By putting a “white” face on the business of slavery, I have helped others acknowledge historical realities AND increase their personal motivation to create a future where we can all thrive.