enslaved Africans. They didn’t Enslaved Africans Rebel speak English. It would usually Enslaved Africans plotted insurrections. take 6-8 months before they could speak English. Like other Enslaved Africans in the North Fight enslaved Africans they didn’t A rebellion would only have a chance have any maps, and didn’t know to succeed if Africans were armed. where they were. Whether they Unfortunately whites had more weapons, were on a plantation in Georgia since it was against the law for an African or Louisiana, it might take years to own a weapon. before they knew whether they were close to a free state or far In 1712 enslaved Africans were able to arm away. themselves. Twenty-fi ve enslaved Africans with guns and clubs decided to burn down But back home in Africa, the homes of white enslavers in New York many of these “new” enslaved City. Nine whites were killed in the attack. Africans had been warriors or Eventually, soldiers arrived and they leaders, and they were not defeated the rebelling Africans. Eighteen willing to accept slavery. Africans involved in the rebellion were Drums were used by killed. Whenever a rebellion was defeated Africans in America to Stono Rebellion usually everyone involved in the rebellion communicate and orga- One African, a man named was executed. nize. Jemmy, organized a rebellion in by using drums Africans could 1739. Jemmy had just recently Born in Africa, Enslaved in America communicate. At the time been kidnapped and brought Not every enslaved African planned a whites would have to walk or to America from Angola. It rebellion or an escape. Most enslaved travel by horse to speak with wasn’t long before he decided Africans were born on slave plantations, and someone on another plantation. to organize other Africans to they never knew what freedom was like. So the drums gave Africans in obtain his freedom. He was able They lived their entire life with someone advantage. Also, whites didn’t to organize almost 100 enslaved telling them what to do, and beating them if know what the songs meant. African men and women, some they spoke back. In America most enslaved of them born in America and Africans were born on the plantation. These other “new” enslaved some born in Africa. However there were usually one or two Africans knew the drum calls enslaved Africans on a plantation who and responded. They met at the He used the drum to speak were born in Africa, and had been recently Stono River in South Carolina, to other “new” enslaved purchased by the plantation owner. They and before long they had armed Africans on other plantations. were born free, and desperately wanted to themselves and began to march The drum is a very powerful be free again. towards Florida. At the time instrument, and even though Florida was controlled by the plantations were miles apart, Life was very diffi cult for these “new” Spanish, and anyone who made Page 6 Ile Omode School African Rebellions in America page 7 it to Florida would be free. Jemmy probably had learned In 1800 Gabriel Prosser decided that South Carolina was much to fi ght against slavery. Gabriel closer to Florida than to a free worked with his brothers Martin state in the North. and Solomon. Gabriel was a blacksmith and his brother Jemmy and his allies left Martin was a minister. Gabriel from their plantations in asked Solomon to begin making South Carolina, and killed weapons, such as bullets, Jemmy and the Stono rebells whites along the way. Their swords and knifes. He planned fought white enslavers. success encouraged other to attack Richmond, the capitol enslaved Africans to join of Virginia, and capture the them. Their group stopped in a large fi eld state’s governor. He recruited to rest. While they rested southern whites over 1,000 enslaved Africans. formed a militia, and were pursuing them On their march to Richmond on horseback. The militia quickly caught up they would kill everyone they with Jemmy’s group. They surrounded the saw. However, Gabriel planned group in an open fi eld, and a bloody fi ght to spare the lives of Quakers, began. Forty-four Africans and twenty-one and other religious people who whites died. were against slavery, as well as Gabriel Prosser was a tall poor whites. The life of poor man, and very strong. It didn’t take long for southern whites to whites wasn’t much better than Gabriel escaped aboard a ship, realize that Africans were using drums to enslaved Africans. but an enslaved African on the speak, and not for entertainment. Soon, ship, recognized him, and turned southern whites passed laws prohibiting On the day of the rebellion him in. Gabriel, his brothers and Africans from using drums. there was a terrible storm, and others involved in the rebellion all the roads and bridges to were caught and hung. Gabriel Gabriel Prosser Richmond were washed out. At Prosser never lost hope, and Gabriel Prosser was enslaved, but his the time there were no paved never showed any fear. kidnapper hired him to do other jobs away roads like today. All of the roads from the plantation. This allowed Gabriel to were just dirt roads, and a meet other Africans, both free and enslaved. heavy storm would cause the Gabriel was seen as a leader by many rivers to overfl ow, and fl ood the because he was fearless. Once, Gabriel roads and bridges. The rebels was attacked by a white overseer. The law supporting Prosser waited did not allow Africans to attack whites, but for the storm to pass, but by Gabriel fought, and defeated the overseer the next day one of Gabriel’s easily. However, he was punished, and followers betrayed him. branded with a hot iron on his hand.

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