Dr.
Antoinette
Harrell
Peonage | Involuntary Servitude |
Modern Day Slavery
HISTORY UNTOLD
“I watched the ‘American Slavery Did Not End in 1865’ presentation by Dr. Antoinette Harrell. She opened my eyes to the realistic past of slavery and how it has not ended.” ~Nicole Lombardi
ABOUT
Her interest in family history began in 1994. She was passionate about discovering her ancestral roots and her heritage. In hopes of finding relatives she had never met, she set out to find them. The desire to preserve family stories for future generations also motivated her quest for knowledge.
She discovered that Robert Harrell, her 4th Great-Grandfather, and his family signed a Freedmen Labor Contract in 1866. For many African Americans, the Freedmen Labor Contract marked the transition from slavery to paid labor. Robert and his family became sharecroppers until they saved enough money to purchase land in 1888. [MORE]
The Peonage Detective
It is said that Dr. Antoinette Harrell is the peonage detective. Her research on peonage cases has spanned 18 states over the last 25 years. One notable case she investigated involved the infamous Arthur G. Dozier Reform School in Marianna, Florida. African American boys were held in peonage. Former student Johnny Lee Gaddy shared his dark story with Harrell about his time at Arthur G. Dozier Reform School. During her research, she found extensive documentation showing how much the school made from the boys’ labor.
WHAT I DO
A proven track record of
finding untold stories.
Having listened to individuals who claim they were subjected to peonage, involuntary servitude, and modern-day slavery. [MORE]
Among Harrell’s sources are (Federal Bureau of Investigation Reports ( FBI), Department of Justice Files, NAACP Files, Newspaper Articles, Criminal Cases, Attorney General Files, [MORE]
She spent years on some cases before bringing this information to the public’s attention. Using media, lectures, interviews, and documentary production, she tells the story. This increased exposure helps to drive change and raise awareness about the issues she has uncovered. [MORE]