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American History

15 Slave Heirlooms That Reveal America’s Tragic History

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3. Branding Irons

3. Branding Irons
Branding irons from Southern plantations symbolize the violent dehumanization endured by enslaved individuals.

Branding irons bearing plantation initials were used to mark enslaved people as property, leaving literal and lasting scars. Some of these tools are preserved in Southern museums, evocative of centuries of violent dehumanization. Examples can be found at Whitney Plantation.org.

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