Honoring Black Ancestors : Denmark Vesey-Freedom Fighter

Denmark Vesey: 176? - July 2, 1822

...In 1799, Vesey won the lottery and bought his freedom for $600. He could not purchase the freedom of his wife and children, however, and some claimed that this fact motivated his crusade to destroy the institution of slavery.

Vesey joined the newly formed African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1817. He became a "class leader," preaching to a small group in his home during the week. White Charlestonians constantly monitored the African church, disrupting services and arresting members. An angry Vesey began preaching from the Old Testament, particularly Exodus, and taught followers that they were the New Israelites, the chosen people whose enslavement God would punish with death.

In 1822, Vesey and other leaders from the African Church began plotting a rebellion. His chief lieutenant was an East African priest named Gullah Jack, who led conspirators in prayer and rituals and gave them amulets to protect them in battle. Vesey's theology of liberation, combined with Gullah Jack's African mysticism, inspired potential participants, and word of the rebellion grew. Vesey set the date for revolt on July 14, and men from Charleston and surrounding plantations planned to seize Charleston's arsenals and guard houses, kill the Governor, set fire to the city, and kill every white man they saw. But in June, several nervous slaves leaked the plot to their masters, and Charleston authorities began arresting leaders. Vesey was captured on June 22, and he and the conspirators were brought to trial. Despite torture and the threat of execution, the men refused to give up their followers. On July 2nd, Denmark Vesey and five other men were hanged. Gullah Jack was executed several days later, with the total number of executions reaching 35 by August 9th....

http://www.pbs.org/thisfarbyfaith/people/denmark_vesey.html
 
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/feb/02/groundbreaking/

Groundbreaking for Vesey monument
Vesey known for planning slave rebellion; monument bound to stir feelings of admiration, anger

BY DAVID SLADE
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, February 2, 2010


....The planned Vesey monument has been in the works since 1996, with Charleston County Councilman Henry Darby leading the effort.

In 2000, the city of Charleston donated $25,000 and the land, and in 2007, County Council agreed to give $40,000.

While Monday's event was billed as a groundbreaking, Darby said there's still about $300,000 to be raised.

The "Denmark Vesey: Spirit of Freedom Monument" has been designed to feature a bronze statue of Vesey and the other ringleaders in the plotted uprising, Peter Poyas and Jack "Gullah Jack" Purcell, standing atop a 5-foot granite pedestal on a plaza.



To help

For more information, or to make a contribution, contact The Denmark Vesey & The Spirit of Freedom Monument Committee at 4743 Ezekiel Ave., North Charleston, SC 29405 or call 953-7610.
 

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