Perhaps a visit to the Freedom House Museum, 1315 Duke Street, Alexandria, should be part of the itinerary of our Governor's "Confederate History Month." The museum is small, and won't take too long to visit.

From the 1820s, and for the next 40 years, the largest slave-trading market in America operated out of Alexandria. A portion of the original remains, and is now the office of the Northern Virginia Urban League, as well as the small museum. 

Back in the day, owners entered through the main door and into a parlor (now a conference room) to make deals. Franklin & Armfield promised them a good price, in cash. Down a narrow flight of stairs to the slave holding area and a larger pen outdoors. (There is now a combination of original and re-created materials.) 

When slaves were given good clothes to put on, they knew it was bad. They were being dressed up to be sold.