The weather was ripe with the smell of sweat and other bodily fluids. I stand with my naked back against the cool brick wall.
"Welcome to the auction," A pensive white male says standing behind the podium.
For years, the black slave auctions had been going strong and the black community had never caught wind. Now, here I am with all my ancestors resting on my shoulders begging me to get to the expose of the century. Michael had asked me if I could go undercover as one of the slaves to see what everything was about. Nervously I had agreed. This could be the story of my career, I thought. Little did I know all that I would have to go through?
I
It all started about a week ago. I had gotten the card from Michael. It read: Black slave auction, slaves needed. Under that was an email address and nothing else. I contacted the email address and on a whim attached a picture. It only took moments before I heard a ping. There was an address and a contact name, Aubrey.
The next day I found the address on map quest and headed out. When I arrived outside the building everything in me shook from nerves. Abandoned looking, the structure stood out against the rest of the city street. I knock. No answer. I knock again and again no answer. I turn to walk away when suddenly the door creaks open and I'm face to face with the prettiest brown eyes I've ever seen.
"Aubrey?" I ask.
"Right this way, "she responds slowly.
I'm brought into a room that seems like it should be a conference room, but it is empty of all furniture. There are four others in the room besides myself and Aubrey. One guys is tall and muscular, another guy is short and stout. The women are both beautiful and lighter than me. I actually am surprised that I'm the darkest complexion of all.
"Welcome all," Aubrey says taking the floor, "this upcoming auction is a private auction. All of you will be blindfolded upon arrival. There about ten others that will be joining and some Masters may put in last minute additions just before the auction. All of you will be nude from now until the Master has decided what to do with you. Your rights will be stripped away from you from here on out. You all will be what was intended to you from the early days, slaves to the white race."
I shake. I don't fit in here. I can barely think past the many times I've seen the movie roots and all the slave lessons from my parents. I cringe at the thought that there are willing black folks like me subjecting themselves to this. I suddenly can't breathe, but I'm not going to give up. The only way to put a stop to all this is to burst this wide open.
So, here I am with my hands on my hips standing behind a podium in an unknown Southern state. This place couldn't get more private. There is a crowd of white faces and they are all staring at the first girl on the block. She isn't familiar, but she seems enthusiastic with a smile. She is bid on but they don't use dollar amounts but instead some kind of code I can't quite work out. I'm up next. They call my name and my knees wobble as I take my place in front of the crowd. The bids start in rapid pace and all I can do is keep telling myself that this is worth it. SOLD! I can barely hear the words through the blood swarming in my ears. I'm helped off the stage before I can see who bought me.
About an hour later the auction is over and I'm taken back to the blacked-out car that brought me up to the yard. We drive for what seems like an hour and arrive at our destination before sun down. I only know this because they open the doors and two of the "slaves" exit. Then we drive on and after the eventful day I find myself drifting to sleep.
II
I'm awoken by hands shaking me. I can't seem to figure out who I am or where I am. I turn to see a friendly face staring down at me.
