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Spirits and Slave REbellions

Spirits and Slave REbellions. Brandon Clayton. Background. Slaves had a culture in which some customs originated from the homeland of Africa, while other customs were picked up in North America when they were forced to assimilate

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Spirits and Slave REbellions

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  1. Spirits and Slave REbellions Brandon Clayton

  2. Background • Slaves had a culture in which some customs originated from the homeland of Africa, while other customs were picked up in North America when they were forced to assimilate • Constantly from the beginning of their captivity, they would sing and tell stories about how they would eventually get free and how the slaveholders would receive the ultimate judgment • The new culture held by slaves resulted in spirit of rebellion and resistance that was adhered to up until the emancipation in 1865

  3. Background • The abolition of slavery in the north came long before the south (1804) • South became entrenched so slaves had to find some way to resist • Some ways included full scale rebellions • These were very rare, but slave owners constantly feared it • Others were just small things that gave the some sense of control where they practically had none • Included feigning sickness, breaking or damaging tools • This also slowed down the production process and therefore decreasing a master’s profits • Obeye is the practicing of harnessing the supernatural forces and spirits for one’s own use • Obeye-men used it to help in slave rebellions and bind slaves to their secrecy • Obeye-men had better medicine practices than the Europeans at that time period • Would poison their masters or heal the sick

  4. Background(Cont) • Between the years of 1600 up until 1865, there was an estimated 200 or more slave results that occurred • About 1,000 slaves escaped every year in the 1850’s • More common to escape than to plan insurrection • Nat Turner’s slave rebellion is most famous and successful • Turner was a slave preacher who inspired his fellow slaves of an apocalyptic view of white and black angels fighting • Him along with 7 original followers killed his owner’s family • Followers maxed at about 80, going around killing white owners in Virginia

  5. Relation to Piano Lesson • Willie Boy was told to carve only himself and his mother into the leg of the piano but instead he carved his whole family • The spirit of rebellion could be seen in the piano because of the spirits linked to it • Berniece calling on the spirits would be considered Obeye • Oppose Sutter who is the master • Represents the life of their grandmother

  6. Relation to Piano Lesson • The spirit is also related to Boy Willie and his goals for life • Rebellious nature • Even though many believe that it was the Ghosts of Yellow dog that was pushing people in the well, it is much easier to see it as a form of slave rebellion

  7. Bibliography • http://www.americaslibrary.gov/assets/jb/colonial/jb_colonial_stono_2_m.jpg • http://www.google.com/search?q=when+was+slavery+abolished+in+north&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a • http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnslaem10.html • http://scholar.library.miami.edu/slaves/Religion/religion.html

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