Nat Turner: A Story That Needs Telling

Time for Day of Remembrance

Darren Camper
Texas Editor

African-American history is filled with many Black heroes who fought for the freedom of our people and who made marks on history with their actions.

While we pause and celebrate non-violence with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we can not make the mistake of allowing White America to select our history, pick our heroes or lull us into thinking that King was the “only one” or the most important Black person to be remembered on a regular basis.

While I am not against MLK Jr., he was not the only one to send a strong message of equality and freedom. He was not the only one that suffered through racism, discrimination and sins of White supremacy.

Nat Turner was a man who lived in slavery and knew its evils first hand.

He too had a dream of someday seeing his people set free from the oppressive hands of White slave masters, but there are no holidays or parades for him.

Turner was born in Southampton, Virginia on 2nd October, 1800, according to information from Spartacus Schoolnet.

He was the son of slaves, and was the property of Benjamin Turner, a prosperous plantation owner.

Turner’s mother and grandmother had been brought to America from Africa and had a deep hatred of slavery. Turner grew up sharing his mother's view of slavery.

He lived in an age where Black had no voice, no freedom, were mostly illiterate and were dependent on the good wishes and care of masser.

His life was not a life fit for man or beast. Black slaves were not considered full men or women by law, but chattel property that could be bought, sold and traded.

Turner was taught to read by his master's son, and during that time he developed deep religious beliefs.

Encouraged by his parents, he gradually began to believe that God had chosen him to lead his people out of slavery.
In 1831 Turner was sold to Joseph Travis. In February of that year, an eclipse of the sun convinced Turner that this was a supernatural sign from God to start an insurrection. However, it wasn't until August 21 that Turner and about seven other slaves killed Travis and his family in their sleep and launched his rebellion. In all, about 50 whites were killed.
Turner had hoped his actions would cause a massive slave uprising, but only 75 joined his rebellion.

Over 3,000 members of the state militia were sent to deal with Turner's rebellion, and they were soon defeated. In retaliation, more than a hundred innocent slaves were killed. Turner went into hiding but was captured six weeks later and was executed November 11, 1831.

Historians have labeled Turner as a crazed maniac, but you could not possibly understand him unless you walked in his shoes, saw what he seen and experience the fears, horrors, exposure to beating and lynching and abuses of slavery.

God works in mysterious ways and I believe God was in both plans. He used Turner as he did MLK Jr. to make respective statements for their times about the injustices imposed on Black people in America.

If Whites were not so evil and selfish during slavery and had treated Blacks with the same respect, dignity and equality, maybe Turner’s rebellion and massacres would never have happened.

Turner is a hero for his using his vision to make a strong case and historic statement against the oppression of Black people or any people.

Even by the time MLK Jr. came on the scene, it was obvious that Whites were still sinful and disobedient to God. They still were mistreating Blacks and had not learned their lesson still refusing to “turn the other cheek” or yield to God’s own word that he is no respecter of persons.

Both represent the broad spectrum of thoughts and philosophies that makes up the psyche of Black America.

Even today, you can’t keep kicking a man or stepping on his neck before he strikes back in some way. Turner was the epitome of what happens when the band breaks.

Payback comes in many forms, from nonviolent means and violent means.

The definition of justice is like to that of beauty – it is defined only in the eyes of those seeking it and does not stop until it works its measure.

In both cases, it demonstrates how movements are born when men are pushed too far and for too long.

Turner had a vision and MLK Jr. had a vision. One was a dream of peace. Another was a vision and a warning that points to the dangers of pushing until you reach spiritual, mental and physical limits. Slavery and oppression undoubtedly created dangerous stress and pressures levels on the soul.

In their own ways, Turner’s Rebellion against oppression evils and MLK Jr. non-violent peaceful approaches to problems have made powerful impacts on the historic fabric of this nation and those contributions must never be forgotten.