eBay removes slavery document for sale amid investigation

In response to concerns raised about the sale of documents related to transatlantic slavery, eBay has initiated an investigation into its listings. The controversy began when an estate inventory document was discovered on the platform, which included a listing for a slave, referred to as 'one Negro Siaba,' valued at $400. Critics argue that selling such items is unethical and perpetuates the commodification of a painful history. They advocate for these documents to be preserved in museums or made freely accessible to descendants of enslaved individuals, emphasizing the need for historical context without profit. Cultural historian Patrick Vernon highlighted the ongoing issue of selling plantation and slave ship records, calling for companies to share these records responsibly. eBay has since removed the offending item and is working to eliminate similar listings, expressing regret for any offense caused and committing to monitoring their platform for such content in the future.