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"Nat Turner: Black Prophet for Freedom"
Student #1
Nat Turner's belief that he was a mystic, born for some great purpose; a
spiritual savior, chosen to lead Black slaves to freedom, justified his
bloody rebellion against slave owners in Virginia. His actions did not so
much spring from the fact that members of his family had been beaten, separated
or sold, but rather from his own deep sense of freedom spoken in the Bible.
From the time Nat Turner was four-years-old, he had been recognized as intelligent,
able to understand beyond his years. He continued to search for religious
truth and began to have visions or signs of being called by God. By the
time Nat Turner reached manhood, the path his life would take was clear;
his destiny would be to bring his fellow slaves out of bondage.
Nat Turner was born to a life of slavery in Southampton County, Virginia,
in 1800. The state of Virginia had some diverse reactions toward slavery.
Stephen B. Oates writes in his article "Children of Darkness"
that "By southern white standards, enlightened benevolence did exist
in Southampton County- and it existed in the rest of the state, too"
(Oates, "Children" 42). There were some schools established for
slave children, and religious meetings were openly allowed. Governor John
Floyd was against the institution of slavery. The Fires of Jubilee, a book
describing Turner's rebellion, explains his feelings on the subject. "He
wanted slavery to be gradually abolished in Virginia and all the blacks
colonized somewhere else, leaving the Old Dominion an unadulterated white
man's paradise" (Oates, Fires 64). The unrest among slaves in Virginia
was more evident than in the deep South because they had been given a small
taste of freedom through activities like school and religion, but no sign
that slavery would be abolished appeared. Instead, the economy of Virginia
was the most important discussion in every session of the legislature. According
to Boorstin and Kelley's History of the United States, "Blacks in some
southern states outnumbered the whites, and there was no way for state leaders
to handle this situation except by keeping the blacks in slavery" (Boorstin
and Kelley 194). Nat Turner would grow up with a sense of frustration, not
being able to see the end to the terrible injustice of slavery.
The fact that young Nat Turner was not like other young slaves was fostered
by his parents. The family lived and worked on the Turner farm. Slaves owned
by the Turners had to work hard because the farm was not one of the big,
wealthy plantations, and some years did not show much profit for the land
owner. According to Terry Bisson's book on Nat Turner, Nat's family, especially
his mother and grandmother, were determined to keep his mind from being
enslaved whether or not he was physically a slave. (Bisson 16). They saw
to it that young Nat had time to read the Bible and encouraged him in his
ambitions. They often examined his body to see if a mark or sign could be
found which would single him out as a prophet.
Nat Turner's father ran away from the farm when Nat was nine, an event which
made a big impression on the young slave. This example of courage stayed
with Nat, and made his determination to help his people even stronger. He
was beginning to realize that, like his father's dream, freedom would have
to be his ultimate goal. He even ran away from the Turner farm and was not
caught. The slaves celebrated for him as their hope for freedom. But after
two weeks of hiding, Nat returned to the Turner farm. Nat Turner believed
that he was born to greatness, and he was beginning to understand what had
to be done to fulfill his vision. By the time he was twenty years old, the
role of prophet was clear. Bisson's book describes Turner's vision of the
spirit. "Nat later wrote in his Confessions that while he was in hiding,
"the Spirit" had appeared and chastised him for having his wishes
directed to the things of this world and not to the kingdom of heaven (Bisson
47). His destiny was not his own freedom, but the freedom of his people.
Religion was a big part of every slave's life, and Nat Turner began to develop
a reputation as a Baptist preacher. It is important to note, however, that
even though he was a Christian, he "took less to the New Testament
and forgiveness and more to the stern righteousness, blood, and thunder
of the Old Testament" (Bisson 38). Nat Turner could identify with Moses,
the prophet, who listened to God speak of the Egyptians, "I have witnessed
the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint
against their slave drivers..." (New American Bible, Exodus 3:4). Turner
believed he was called to lead the black enslaved people to freedom. Like
Moses, Nat Turner searched for signs from God. Moses' staff became a serpent,
and Turner heard voices in the darkened sky. It was in the Old Testament
that Turner could find justification for his plans to seek revenge on the
slave masters in Virginia. There was also some witchcraft mixed into the
slaves' religious beliefs, and the old African traditions of gods and rituals
had an influence on Turner's preaching. He could stir up feelings of rebellion
within a group of slaves while actually preaching his religion. "Christianity
and freedom became tied together in his mind" (Bisson 38).
In 1822 Nat Turner was moved from the Turner farm to a farm owned by Thomas
Moore. He was separated from his wife and children but was grateful that
they were bought by a master in a nearby farm. His mother remained on the
Turner place to care for the elderly Mrs. Turner. On the Moore farm, Nat
continued his preaching and, at the same time, began to plan his rebellion.
Many times Turner claimed he saw visions of rebellion such as figures drawn
in blood on the leaves in the field. He said that the blood represented
"the Blood of the Savior." Herbert Aptheker in his book on the
American slave gives an account in the field when Turner heard a loud noise
in the heavens, and the Spirit instantly appeared and said the Serpent was
loosened and Turner should take it upon himself to fight against the Serpent
for the time had come that the first should be last and the last should
be first (Aptheker 296).
Nat Turner became convinced that the day of the rebellion would be soon.
Economic conditions in Virginia also influenced Turner and his followers.
The sale of cotton was down, forcing masters of the farms to work their
slaves harder and harder. Talk of slave unrest sent a fear through Southampton
and other parts of Virginia; militia were armed and on the look-out for
any sign of rebellious blacks. Stephen Oates explains that Southern whites
tried to tell themselves that nothing was wrong and went about their business.
Even though there had been small insurrections in the past, they reasoned,
the militia had taken care of them. There was nothing to worry about. (Oates,
Fires 49). Meanwhile, Nat Turner was hours away from making his move.
After witnessing a solar eclipse in February 1831, Turner believed it was
the long awaited sign. He has been quoted to have said at the time of the
eclipse, "As the black spot passed over the sun, so should the blacks
pass over the earth" (Oates, "Children" 45). All of the which
craft, the Old Testament revenge, and the hatred Turner felt toward slavery
came together in the decision made by Nat Turner and a group of slaves one
dark night. The rebellion was planned for July 4, but had to be postponed
because Turner became sick. This frustrated some slaves because they saw
it as a sign of weakness, so Turner again made plans. The date was August
21, 1831. He met in secret with six followers, and they all decided that
no whites should be spared.
Deep in the woods, Nat Turner and his men vowed that they would gain their
freedom or die in the attempt. Turner appeared with the plan that they would
rise that night and "kill all the white people." The revolt was
to be so swift and terrifying that the whites would be too frightened to
fight back. With only seven men to begin the revolt, Turner intended that
it happen completely without warning. Nat Turner had lived his life for
this moment, and there was no turning back from his vision of freedom. He
saw the rebellion as his holy war, his prophecy, and the fulfillment of
his promise to his people.
Nat Turner's rebellion was a bloody revenge on white masters and their families.
The Turner farm was the first struck by the rebel slaves. The slaves wanted
Turner, the prophet, to kill first, but he could not. Stephen Oates wrote
that "as God's prophet, Turner preferred to let Will and the other
lieutenants do the slaughtering" (Oates, "Children" 46).
The rebels took farm after farm, all by surprise. To keep their revolt from
arousing the countryside, no firearms were used, instead all of their victims
were stabbed or decapitated. In the two day rampage, sixty white men, women
and children were killed.
Turner's vision included the capture of the city of Jerusalem. It was fitting
that his last stand would be made in a place named after the "holy
city". The column of rebel slaves were attacked on all sides by militia
and driven back to the woods. Word of the rebellion had spread and the slaves
who were not killed hid in fear. Nat Turner was found several weeks later
hiding in the woods next to the Turner farm. He was tried, found guilty
and hung.
Nat Turner justified his bloody rebellion against whites as the fulfillment
of a prophecy. After he was put in prison, Turner gave his written Confessions.
When asked if he thought his mission was a mistake, Turner answered, "Was
not Christ crucified? And by signs in the heavens that it would make known
to me when I should commence the great work" (Turner, Confessions 3).
Nat Turner had to kill the serpent, to strike out against slavery and free
his people. It was the fulfillment of his prophecy.
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