Introduction

For this essay I chose to explore the controversial past and present time of ”Cheapside.” This particular place is of great interest to me because of my family history. The earliest members of my family were from the Deep South. The state of Georgia, to be specific. I have learned that we owned a plantation, which unfortunately required the use of slaves. Therefore the selling of and buying of slaves has always be an interesting topic for me. I do not know much about “Cheapside” specifically. All that I do know is that here in Lexington, it served has the main place to buy and sell slaves. It also still stands today. I have never personally been to Cheapside, but those who have, tell me that it is quite a moving experience. I am told that sometimes some festivals or events in Lexington are held at Cheapside. Which I feel is a very controversial thing to do. How can something that symbolized such an awful act hold such present day activities as if it never happened? I would like to find out the history of Cheapside as well as situations that occurred there. To do that I would need to do deep research and hopefully find someone who has some form of a direct connection with Cheapside. My only concern about this project is that hopefully I will not turn this essay into a research paper. Therefore I will try to include more personal experiences and personal interviews to steer away from giving my essay the feeling of “research.” My goals for this essay are to branch out of a world that is familiar to me. Coming from New Jersey I never has to deal with much racism in my life. Although in the south it still does exist, unfortunately. By writing this essay I will be forced to come into contact with a world unfamiliar to me.