Slaves symbolically set free
GEORGETOWN -- In a simple, poignant ceremony February 28 on the campus of Southwestern University, the spirits of those once bound by slavery in Williamson County were symbolically set free.
Kenneth Witherspoon, a member of San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, led the “sending home” ceremony, which included the ritual burning of slips of papers containing the names of slaves.
He was accompanied by representatives of varying faith traditions.
The idea for the ceremony came to him after he discovered the slave bills of sale five months ago while working on an application for a proposed historical marker to acknowledge the role of slavery in the county’s history.
Maintained by the county clerk’s office, the records date to the 1850s and note the name, age and sex of the person as well as who bought, sold or deeded them.
Read more: https://www.etypeservices.com/SWF/LocalUser/Williamson1//Magazine158765/Full/index.aspx?II=158765#1/z
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Thanks.
