Reflection
Researching the revolt on Denmark Vesey was enjoyable and eye-opening. So much was learned during the investigation into the life of a slave who was able to buy his own freedom from the simple winnings of a lottery ticket. Denmark was a very smart man and was full of enthusiasm and charisma. He was able to lead and change the mind-set of thousands of enslaved people and to devise the largest revolt in known history; that is amazing. Denmark Vesey's legacy still lives on in the city of Charleston, although many protest the honor of such a man, calling him a terrorist. The Denmark Vesey home and the memorial of freedom will hopefully continue to commemorate the life and legacy of Denmark Vesey and to educate and to enlighten those who know very little about such a great man.
It was interesting to find out that so many others (slaves) had a plan to revolt, and how we as students never studied or even learned the names of these courageous slaves. I believe that by learning about these leaders, students (especially African American students,) would have a greater self-worth and it would put a different spin on the roles blacks took during the slavery era. During the month of February, we always celebrate the same leaders - Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Harriett Tubman, Thurgood Marshall, unknowing of the Denmark Veseys that came before them. These strong men are the platform of which those greats stood upon.
As educators, we can teach about the advancements slaves made to bring African American's into the movement we know as Civil Rights. We can discuss the slave trade and the laws that were put into place to forbid slaves from advancements and how they over came them. We can research other insurrections and the slaves who devised those plots and plans. We can compare and contrast the success and/or failure of the revolts and brainstorm other possible outcomes.
It was interesting to find out that so many others (slaves) had a plan to revolt, and how we as students never studied or even learned the names of these courageous slaves. I believe that by learning about these leaders, students (especially African American students,) would have a greater self-worth and it would put a different spin on the roles blacks took during the slavery era. During the month of February, we always celebrate the same leaders - Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Harriett Tubman, Thurgood Marshall, unknowing of the Denmark Veseys that came before them. These strong men are the platform of which those greats stood upon.
As educators, we can teach about the advancements slaves made to bring African American's into the movement we know as Civil Rights. We can discuss the slave trade and the laws that were put into place to forbid slaves from advancements and how they over came them. We can research other insurrections and the slaves who devised those plots and plans. We can compare and contrast the success and/or failure of the revolts and brainstorm other possible outcomes.