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According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, racism is “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race”. This is evident in the actions of slave-owners in the 1800’s and the confessions of a hero: Nat Turner. Supporters of slavery felt that it was their right to own property and that the enslaved were their property to own.  With all that Turner was put through as a more educated slave man; it was only a matter of a time that a man’s anger will unleash. His actions are justified by the oppression he faced, the torture he experienced, and the hard labor he was forced to do. He wasn’t only physically tortured but also mentally. It’s true he was able to read and write which is more than most other slaves, however, he needed more. He needed to apply his knowledge and so he devised a rebellion and led 50 other men to revolt against the institution. They killed every white person they came in contact with. Whether or not this revolt was organized in order to gain his own feeling of superiority will never be known. From what he said he really believed he was a prophet. He used his voice to organize something that would potentially skew the mentality of slave owners. They gained a voice and that can never be taken away. White slave-owners were terrified but somehow this still wasn’t enough to speed the emancipation process. Profit is the only thing people valued, even over morality and their own safety. Money is the cause behind all of this. Money will always be the reason behind the oppression people of color faced then and the oppression they face now.

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I am addressing every American because slavery involved all races.

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I am choosing to portray Nat Turner as a victim of slavery and I have written a sermon in his defense.

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1. Who was Nat Turner? Was he a hero or a madman?

Nat Turner led a rebellion going from house to house killing all the white people they came in contact with. It lasted 36 hours and yet it still was not enough for whites to consider the emancipation of slaves. In my opinion Nat Turner was neither a hero or a madman. Sanity cannot be measured, so according to his experiences as a slave he would be considered sane. After everything he went through, it’s normal to have all this hatred towards the race that oppressed you, however, killing random White people did not lead to a rapid emancipation of slaves, but rather slowed the process. I would not consider him a hero either because this rebellion didn’t change much except for the fact that whites were now extremely scared and cautious of it happening again.

1. What is your evidence?

In Document C, Henry Highland says, “The patriotic Nathaniel Turner was driven to desperation by the wrong and injustice of slavery” which supports my claim that it was only a matter of time that anger took over their actions.

1. What other evidence would you like to have to inform your decision?

Also, in Document C it states the mentality of most slaves at the time. The enslaved would “rather die freemen, than live to be slaves” and Nate Turner used this to appoint other men to his cause to rebel. He was able to persuade a large group to basically go on a suicide mission so that, “future generations will remember him among the noble and brave”.

1. Why do the characterizations in Documents A, B, and C differ?

Document C showed someone who saw Nat Turner as a hero to future generations. Document B depicted him as a man who brainwashed other slaves to revolt with him in order for his own personal gain. Document A shows both his Turner’s ideas and those of his lawyer who was listening to his confessions.

1. Which do you think is most trustworthy?

I don’t think any of these articles can be completely trustworthy. They all have a bias towards Turner whether it be negative or positive. So therefore, none can be completely trusted.

1. How does time affect how people view Turner?

Closer to the time period that it happened, people would view this rebellion as a monstrous act. But later on, people praise his actions because they believe it is one of the reasons African- Americans are free to this day.

1. How do you think most people today would characterize Turner?

Some people would call him a hero for standing up for what he believes in. Others would claim violence wasn’t necessary and that it was a barbaric act. There are many justifications for Turner’s decision to lead a rebellion, however, do these justifications really justify why he had to do the same to whites as they did to blacks?

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Dear Children In History Class,

I , Nathaly Anaya, would like to introduce you to Nathaniel Turner, or more likely known as Nat Turner. In your history class, you will learn or are learning about slavery. Slavery was alive for a very long time and many people tried to abolish it. One of those people was Nat Turner. However, there are different ways in trying to abolish it. Many held rallies, others held meetings, and some did rebellions. Nat turner did rebellions. Yes, these rebellions were violent and had many deaths. These deaths accounted for about 40-50 men, women, and children. Nat turner, when this rebellion occurred, accused him of being a madman because of all these deaths even though there were many other rebellions that caused more deaths. Nat Turner said that God was a major factor in his life and showed him the future when he was small. That's why he thought of himself as a prophet-to-be because of God's connection with him. He gathered a few supporters but with the few supporters he gathered, he made the rebellion a big deal in time and in history. He had little to no guns at all throughout the rebellion and killed many of the whites through knives and axes. Many people view him as a hero because he stood up for what he believed in and did something about it. But others, say it was way too violent and he could have taken another approach then to kill the white people that he did. What do you think?

Best Regards,

Nathaly Anaya

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I feel like kids in school would be a good audience especially for history class because it will bring more attention to him since we barely talk about him. also, it could become more of a informal letter.

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audience: kids in school ?

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the writing format: letter

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and we could say something that he was a priest as well? I think thats something that I read.

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also his intelligence

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he thought this because of when he was small and his connection with god

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we can say how he tried to abolish slavery with the rebellion

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so we have to do a portrayal and Im going to choose #1

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I think that most people would say that he is a hero because we believe that slavery is wrong and we see that he tried to abolish slavery.

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7. How do you think most people today would characterize Turner?

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I think time has a lot to do with the way we view history because laws have passed and have changed many things. But, also because we get to view the disadvantages and advantages of the past. Also, with this we can see what to do and what not to do to not repeat history.

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6.How does time affect how people view Turner?

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I think the most trustworthy is Document A just because the lawyer did say that he wanted to not change any words. Also, that Nat Turner was very clam and etc. However, it does have its downside because it is Nat Turner's lawyer and is defending him.

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5. Which do you think is most trustworthy?

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In document C, the characterization differs because he wanted to abolish slavery. Therefore, he wanted to look at the upside of the event that occurred.

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In document B, the characterization differs because the article was polished in Virginia and Virginia was a slave state. Therefore, they wanted Nat Turner to look like the bad guy and not the white people.

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In document A, the characterization is the way it is because that is the lawyer of Nat turner. A lawyer is supposed to protect its client.

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4.Why do the characterizations in Documents A, B, and C differ?

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In document B, August 30,1831 shows that Nat turner and other slaves massacred any whites that came into their way to show their rebellion. They had killed from 40-50 men, women, and children.

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3.What other evidence would you like to have to inform your decision?

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n document A, it shows that Nat turner was speaking with Thomas R. Gray about his confessions of the rebellion he held. He also tell Thomas that he was never meant to be a slave and how god showed him the future when he was a child.

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2. What is your evidence?

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nat turner was a slave that held a rebellion. But he said that god showed him the future when he was small. his intelligence was far outreached that he believes he shouldn't have been a slave. I believe that he was a hero just because he wanted to abolish slavery and he held a rebellion to show that belief.

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1. Who was Nat Turner? Was he a hero or a madman?