Today was a memorable one for me as I stood at the Denmark Vesey Monument in Hampton Park at Charleston, SC. In 1799, Denmark Vesey won $1,500 in the East Bay Lottery. He spent part of the money, $600, to purchase his freedom. Vesey went on to help start Hampstead African Methodist Episcopal Church downtown and agitate for others education and freedom. The violence perpetrated by whites against blacks - attacks both legal and physical, including assaults on the church - convinced him that the rebellion was justified. Vesey and his followers plotted insurrection but were exposed by informants. The repercussions were fierce: Vesey and 34 of his comrades were publicly hanged, and the church building was destroyed. The rebellion struck such fear into the hearts of the white minority at the time, they insisted on answering it with brutality and newly organized militias to keep the citys blacks under control. Finally, I want those who know to notice the square protruding from Veseys bag. (Unfortunately the light was not ideal when I took the picture, but I hope you can see it). Vesey was a Prince Hall Mason (as was many other Black men who were instruments in the liberation of our people). It was an honor to stand at the site where this great revolutionary was finally honored as the freedom fighter that he was (instead of the terrorist that he was called).
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 03:55:55 +0000
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