Denmark Vesey and Gabriel Prosser
condemned slave who was burned to death
with thirteen others in the great
"Negro Plot of 1741" in New York City.
photo courtesy of Before the Mayflower
Gabriel Prosser
| The Haitian Revolution did not go unnoticed. In the plantation houses it was whispered with trembling voices of fear, but in the slave cabins it was whispered with fascinated eyes and inspiration. Gabriel Prosser would be the first to carry on Toussaint's battle cry. It was said that Gabriel was a deeply religous man who wore his long hair in imitation of his biblical idol, Samson. At the age of 24 Gabriel, along with his wife Nanny and several co-conspirators, laid the plans for a slave uprising in Richmond, Virgina. By August 1800, several thousand (estimates range from 2,000 to 50,000) slaves had been enlisted. Gabriel's plans were never able to come to pass however for the plot was betrayed by a house slave to his master. Gabriel was arrested and tried in court. In a speech at his trial he openly called the proceedings a mockery and demanded to be immediately executed. For their attempts at freedom, Gabriel and thirty-four of his co-conspirators were convicted and hanged. (Information courtesy of Before the Mayflower) |
Denmark Vesey
| In the same year of Gabriel's death, 1800, a slave named Denmark Vesey gained his freedom in Charleston, South Carolina. Warning that God helps those who helps themselves, Vesey laid the plans for a massive slave revolt and enlisted the aid of over 9,000 slaves. Using information cells which only allowed certain amounts of information to limited amounts of people, Vesey organized a complex plot. Given its goals, the revolt would have been impressive had the conspirators not been given away by a fellow slave. Under arrest, in the face of continued threats, promises, and torture, only one of the condemned men ever gave away information. One of the leaders, a slave known as Peter Poyas, told his men, "Do not open your lips. Die silent as you shall see me do." Vesey and his co-conspirators were hanged on July 2, 1822, the freedom they sought finally at hand. (Information courtesy of Before the Mayflower) |
