Kelsey+Washington

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 * **Name AMARI WORTHINGTON** and I am a slave working on the Worthington plantaion. I usely take care of Master John baby girl Ava. I am 14, and curently live in Southampton, Virgina with my mom and two brothers. My mom helps take care of Ava and she cooks, while my brothers work in the field picking cotton.

Entry Number 1 Dear journal, August 19,1831
NAT TURNER was born on October 2,1800 in Southhampton County, Virgina. He died November 11,1831. He was best know as the leader in the 1831 slave rebellion. He was a preacher for the slaves and was a deeply religous man who said that he would sometimes get vision and directives from the All MIghty himself God. He became convinced that his mission was to lead slaves out of pain and suffering. He developed a idea to help him complete it.By going off of the eclipse of the sun as a sign to act on it. On August 21,1831 he began the rebellion. With 75 slaves he killed his Master's family. After that the killings began they killed 60 whites on a two day killing spree. 3,000 state millitary people demolished the insurrectionists, who were either caught or killed. Nat avoided arrest for 6 weeks until discovered. He was tried and hanged for his actions.

Pastor Tuner( Nat) is planning a slave rebellion. I heard it from Thomas today my eldest brother he's 18. He told my mom that he was thinking about joining, if it was true. We were in our small home more like a hut, the Master gave to us to live in. So no one could hear the deep conversation that could leave to trouble. My mama told my brother that Pastor Turner, was to much of a religous man to even think about something as devise as that. Thomas said that you dont know what anyone is capable regardless of their belifes. My mom told him that she knows that being a slave is rough and that it can hurt. But you got to stay hopeful and belive the lord will see us through. My brother told her sometimes its hard to belive that. I looked a my brother in shock because he was actually doubting there even was a god. Well that made my mom go off she smacked and asked him how dare he question her Savor and the one that brought him into this world. All he could do was look at her in disbelife. While she silently prayed to herself. Now Thomas and mama always had these aruguments but never had Thomas doubted the lord. The next two day I was overwrought with thoughts of what's going to happen on the 21st. Then dreadfull it came in the early afternoon I heard cries of terror. I knew that the rebellion had started, the town was a blur, white people running everywhere like headless chickens. Slaves killing and beating one after one, in the mist of it all I saw my brother with anger in eyes beating on a white person. Slaves in the raid giving weapons to any slaves willing to join in. The rebellion lasted two days, on the second day a bunch of white men in army print raided the town. As if the roles were switched the army print men where attacking the slaves and the slave were running. I grabbed my brother from the angry blur and ran.

Entry Number 2: Dear journal, June 16,1822
Denmark Vessey was a African american slave who bought his freedom. After that his mind was set on planning a slave rebellion that would have been one of the largest. But word of his plan was leaked by another slave, and police arrested him and the leaders before it could happen. Him and others were tried and convicted and sadly executed. Many people that belived in antislavery regared him as a heroic person. During, the Civil War Fredreick Douglass used Denmark Vesey as a battle cry to rattle slaves.

Hey diary, Denmark Vesey is a most common name is common down here, everybody know him because he has a crazy idea to plan a rebellion against the white. Everyone just look at him as one of the slaves that went crazy. He had people to join him and knew every detail. I asked my mom was she going to join it if Vesey was serious. My mom said that she loves the lord to much to be involved in nonsense like that, and told me I shouldnt even think about joining it. I told her I wasnt and went to tend to the Masters baby. While I feed the baby, I heard the head slave talking about it saying that someone has told on Denmark and they looking for him now. After, I finish feding the baby I went and told my mother and she said that she hopes that he will be okay and the worst punishment he gets is a whipping. The next day all through the slave community the talk of Denmark and a few other deaths hung in the air like fog. People cried and prayed at the slave church. I asked my mom why did they kill him when he didnt do anything, she told me they always find a reason to kill us. Later my mom told me that he planned to sail to Haiti to escape retaliation. A slave told his master and Vesey and the others were charged, convicted, and hanged. His son was shipped to cuba and wife was inmmigrated to Liberia. I thought to my self was it even worth it?

Entry Number 3: Dear journal, September 18,150
The Fugitive Slave Law Act was an act passed by the United States Congress. On September 18, 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850. It declared all runaway slave be brought back to their masters. It brought a difiant reponse from abolitionist having reverends declare they will never follow the outrages rules. In 1854, the Wisconsin Supreme Court became the only state to declare this act as unconstiunal. I think this whole act is stupid. I think if we make an effort to runaway we shouldnt be brought back home when we are free. It make all the hard work and the pain seem it wasnt for anything. When you runaway what keeps you going is the thought that as soon as you reach the north that you wouldnt have to suffer as much anymore. But these stupid white folks had to go and make this law, they dont know what we go through everyday. I bet they couldnt last a day in my shoes, serving others and getting whipped because you didnt do something right. They dont have to worry at night about will they get to live tommorow. They dont have to walk on pins and needles worrying if they are going to mess something up and get beat almost to there DEATH! Or work in the fields with snakes that could kill you with one bite. They dont know what we go through, they really dont have a clue. If it were up the me they be the slaves and we be the mean white people. But you know what I have the lord to keep me going and my mother. To keep me humble and not lose my mind, but sometimes I wonder does he even her my prayers. Before I go I really think this act is STUPID!

Essential Questions
==1. How does one's understanding of slavery affect his understanding of the people and events of the 1850s and 1860s? That life in during that time was awful, and he understands why slaves would rebell.==