Black, Colored, Negroes, Niggers… All names that had been given to describe “darker” skinned toned individuals whom only wanted the pleasure of being free in a land full of opportunity. Imagine being taken from what you know as home to be turned into someone’s property and considered no more as free; to be considered no more as human but as chattel. The question is, who? Who in the hell would want to be a slave? “The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turners Fierce Rebellion” by Stephen Oates happened to be one the most vivid books in which provided its audience with details that placed the reader in the shoes of the characters whom suffered for years because of a law that imprisoned human beings because of the complexion of their skin, filling their heads
In The Fires of Jubilee, Stephen Oates describes the events that led to Nat Turner’s rebellion. His goal had been to create a narrative that was realistic and true to the real history behind these events. Upon reading this book, I believe that Oates achieved his goal. He was able to portray the struggles of many slaves during that time, and the fight for the freedom they so much desired.
Stephen B. Oates writes about a slave named Nat Turner, who led a rebellion against slavery in the book “The Fires of Jubilee”. Turner was born on October 17, 1800 in Southampton County, Virginia. His mother Nancy was bought by a man named Benjamin Turner in 1795 and was transported to America. Nat’s father was never named, but was married to Nancy.
The book, The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion, by Stephen B. Oates’ account of the slave rebellion in Virginia’s Southampton county in 1831. Oates’ book is a historical narrative of the exploits of Nat Turner, a gifted black slave who rallied servants into a bloody revolt against their masters. Oates clearly analyzes the events that led to the revolt in the eyes of Nat turner. He records the life and struggles of Nat Turner and other slaves and their great determination to become free. His books attempts to show how the serfs’ rebellion in Virginia increased tensions among natives and slaves contributing to the civil war three decades later.
Nat Turner and John Brown are both noted, as being symbols of American reform. Leaders of abolitionist groups, who went on a killing spree believing they were given “extraordinary powers from above” and were executed for their strong beliefs of anti-slavery. Their gruesome murders could easily attract followers and spark interest in others to write their biographies. John Brown and Nat turner both came from strong religious backgrounds.
Nat Turners Rebellion became monumental for many people of color, he was idolized and respected for his courageous actions. The rebellion created fear that spread through the South, even those in favor for abolishment now wanted stricter laws for slaves. Turner was “recorded on the list of dishonor” for the organization he had lead (“An Address To The Slave Of The united Slaves”). There had been an interview by Thomas R. Gray, defending and slightly sympathizing with Turners actions, many rejected the validation of the interview and felt as if he just wanted “to trick, confuse, and overwhelm the slave’s minds.” (“The Southampton Tragedy”).
Throughout the years, slaves have encountered seasons of agony as slave owners exhibit inhumane behavior resulting in the manslaughter of numerous slaves. On a treacherous flight towards freedom, slaves like Nat Turner and Harriet Tubman have retreated from brutality, in order to take a stand against
Turner was born into slavery with an associated leadership in his African heritage. This leadership was portrayed by figurative birthmarks that his family associated it with. Nat also possessed some supernatural abilities and was somehow aware of things that happened before his own birth. Turner was very intelligent, a very unusual intelligence of an African American compared to young white children and slaves. This gave him an advantage and he was given a chance to acquire reading skills and study the Bible.
Nat Turner was born into slavery on October 2, 1800 in Southampton County, Virginia. His slavemaster from the time he was born up until he was ten was Benjamin Turner. When Benjamin Turner died in 1810 Nat became the property of Benjamin’s older brother Samuel, who was portrayed in the book. Nat Turner spent his entire life on the Southampton
In Nat Turner, Kyle Baker illustrates a part of history that textbooks merely gloss over. He gives names to the 55 whites who were murdered. However, it is impossible to mention all the names of the thousands of blacks that suffered because of the slave trade. But was Nat Turner’s revenge justified? Although Nat Turner’s rebellion is unjustifiable because so many were killed, he is not entirely to blame because white slaveholders denied him and other black people of basic rights which forced them to act out.
The act of Norfolk Mayor of being irrational roused Governor Floyd’s upheaval. Amid the insurgence of Nat Turners, the frenzy of the Norfolk Mayor was put by bits of gossip and suppositions that the present uprising was an extensive, effective occasion. Slaves in Virginia, far outnumbered the white populace and an across the board rebellion could demonstrate terrible to the whites. The Governors resentment was halfway vanity and in addition pride.
Rebellions Rebellion: an open, organized, and armed resistance to one’s government or ruler. And I’m not talking about just “rebelling” against your parents by staying out past curfew. Some rebellion involves a degree of defiance that requires violence and law breaking. But others are more silent such as the creation of newspapers. There were plenty of rebellions that shaped history from acts of disobedience, boycotts, newspapers, social movements, and violent uprisings.
The Underground Railroad was used by an estimated one-hundred thousand fugitive slaves to help them gain their freedom from slavery (“Underground Railroad”). The Underground Railroad was a secretive organization that helped runaway slaves gain freedom in the north, thanks to many brave people, or conductors, who led trips north for thousands of slaves, and the many different ways people knew about the organization without most people ever finding out. The Underground Railroad is an organization made by freed slaves and white sympathizers who helped many slaves travel North and find freedom (“Underground Railroad”). The Underground Railroad was mostly operated at night and it provided food, directions, and shelter for slaves making their way
Rebellion can occur for many reasons. Some call for social reform, while others want change economically or politically. However, the root of any rebellion is change. This was no different in the slave uprising of Virginia in 1831, led by Nat Turner. Turner was born in 1800, during the peak of slavery in Southampton, Virginia.
The Birth of a Nation, Nate Parker’s Sundance darling period piece about the deadliest slave insurrection in American history, was purchased by Fox Searchlight on early Tuesday morning for $17.5 million. It was the largest deal in Sundance history, and coverage immediately suggested that The Birth of a Nation will function as some way through which the Academy can make up for this year’s diversity debacle. Nat Turner’s Rebellion is a fascinating story, an important one, and an under-examined one. Nate Parker struggled for years to get the project made, and I have no doubt that—as with almost any film rooted in a black experience or with a mostly black cast—it was a frequently frustrating fight.
