On this day in 1831, Nat Turner, a slave preacher in Southampton County, Virginia, initiated a rebellion in which groups of slaves went house to house in the area, liberating the enslaved and killing their masters.

Turner (1800 - 1831) was born and raised in Southampton County, Virginia, an area where black people outnumbered whites. He learned how to read and write at a young age and was deeply religious, eventually becoming an influential preacher in the area.

In early 1831, on the basis of religious visions, Nat Turner began preparing an insurrection. The rebellion began on August 21st, 1831, and rebels traveled from house to house, freeing slaves and killing many of the white people that they encountered.

At least 55 whites were killed, among them men, women, and children. The group spared a few homes "because Turner believed the poor white inhabitants 'thought no better of themselves than they did of negroes'", according to historian Stephen Oates.

The rebellion was put down by a combined force of local militia and three companies of artillery. The state executed 56 black people, and militias killed at least 100 more, some of whom were not involved in the rebellion.

Turner went on the run, eluding capture for six weeks. On October 30th, 1831, a white farmer discovered him hidden among the local Nottoway people in a depression in the earth, created by a large, fallen tree that was covered with fence rails.

After being tried and convicted for "conspiring to rebel and making insurrection", Turner was asked if he regretted what he had done. He responded "Was Christ not crucified?"

Turner was hanged by the government on November 11th, 1831. His body was dissected and flayed, with his bones and skin being used to create trophies and souvenirs such as purses.

After Turner's execution, state legislatures passed new laws prohibiting education of slaves and free black people, restricting rights of assembly and other civil liberties for free black people, and requiring white ministers to be present at all worship services.

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  • forcequit [she/her]
    ·
    2 years ago

    can seppos keep their fuckin brainworms to themselves you dont need a gun for self defence unless you're reasonably expecting to be shot at the fuck is wrong with you

    • cozy [she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      last month some gangbanger girl and her friends broke down our front door in the middle of the night, yelling for the blood of someone who used to live at this address. luckily my sister's boyfriend came out of their bedroom chambering a round in his handgun and that scared them off.

      if he hadn't been here, we would have been fuuuucked. even if I had somehow been able to call the police, and they were somehow able to get here before my arms and legs were all broken, the best possible scenario would have involved my sister getting hauled off to jail for all her weed stuff lying around, and being served with court papers she's been dodging.

      amerikkkans outside of the middle-class bubble live in a police state with none of the law and order. constant threat of violence but you can't go to the police. having a gun is extremely based, especially when you're Visibly Trans and half of the reactionary lumpen and three quarters of the frothing flag-waving chudoids around you would love to beat the shit out of your scrawny ass if they could get away with it.

    • buh [she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      unless you’re reasonably expecting to be shot at

      Everywhere in :amerikkka-clap: this is a reasonable expectation

      • forcequit [she/her]
        ·
        2 years ago

        Again, this is largely a US thing, these are unrealistic fears elsewhere. If you need a gun for self defence you need more support than a gun can afford you.

        I can reasonably expect my neighbour to come at me with a knife perhaps, because knives are useful tools most everyone has access to. I can't reasonably expect my neighbour to draw a gun on me if they're not a ubiquitous tool that everyone has access to and ownership of. Theyre just not a thing here unless youre running drugs or chasing them, in which case maybe change your social circles.

        The idea every person needs to be armed at all times in fear of retaliation (because everyone is armed at all times) is tautological nonsense that just gets school kids shot up