The fire of Jubilee by Stephen Oates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The fire of Jubilee by Stephen Oates - Essay Example Unlike other slaves living in Virginia during 1820s, Turner was permitted to move among the county plantation and farms and to preach to his fellow slaves during Sundays. This kind of freedom and movement gave him a chance to study his fellow slaves and identify those who suited his plans. Further, it gave him an opportunity to learn the County’s geography and to note the brutal and cruel masters in the County farms. The author states that Turner’s reading of the bible made him realize that white people were wrong in justifying and quantifying slavery and that the bible contained amazing stories of the liberation of captives and exiles. The knowledge he gained from the Bible, his life experience and interpretation of mysterious signs forced Turner to believe that God had chosen him to stage a rebellion that would end up liberating the slaves in Virginia just as Moses liberated the Israelites from captivity in Egypt (Oates 31). An eclipse that occurred in Virginia in 183 1 encouraged Turner that God wanted him to start the uprising and his followers or fellow slaves began the revolt without hesitation since they knew it was for their liberation. When rebellion began, Turner followers traveled across Virginia executing white people in every farm. It is significant to note that the book provides chronological happening of the rebellion in Virginia and its inhuman suppression. as amazing as the story of the Virginia rebellion is, Oates narration of the aftermath of the 1831 events is saddening. For instance, the author states that at the beginning, it is not recognized that the number of black casualties murdered in white retaliation was more than Turner’s victims were. In addition, the author explains the fear and anxiety among white people in Virginia and other States that practiced slavery. White people feared that the uprising or rebellion was a small part of a bigger and much more organized uprising planned by William Lloyd from the North. William Lloyd Garrison advocated for abolitionism movement.