440 Negroes

440 Negroes tells the story of the largest recorded slave auction in American history—an event known as The Weeping Time, held in Savannah, Georgia in 1859. Over two days, 436 men, women, and children were sold off to pay the debts of a failing plantation owner, tearing apart generations of Black families in a brutal public transaction. Through powerful interviews with local scholars, descendants, and Savannah’s mayor, the film confronts the silence that still lingers over the auction site today.

This documentary not only uncovers the historical facts—it explores the emotional legacy, civic reckoning, and ongoing struggle to preserve the memory of those whose names were listed only as property. 440 Negroes challenges the viewer to ask: What happens when a city’s most painful history is paved over—and who gets to decide what is remembered?