Today is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
It's also the anniversary of the Haitian Revolution, when slaves in Haiti rebelled against French colonial rule.
Now widely seen as a defining moment in the history of the Atlantic world, the revolution began in August 1791 and saw the abolition of slavery in Haiti two years later.
Toussaint Louverture soon emerged as the figurehead of the revolution. Born a slave, Louverture became a general during the revolution and fought for the independence of his people. He is now known as the Father of Haiti.
Today we remember the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade, but we also celebrate the radicals who fought against it and dedicated their lives to its abolition.
#haiti#slavetrade#abolition#slavery#toussaintlouverture#haitianrevolution#slave#louverture#toussaint#revolution#revolt#insurrection
On this day in history, Nat Turner led a slave rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, in 1831.
Here's a contemporary engraving of Turner conspiring with his fellow slaves.
Having enlisted more than 70 slaves, Turner led his rebels from house to house, freeing enslaved people and killing many of the white people they encountered.
Turner had hoped that the violence would show white people the inherent brutality in the slave trade.
But within just three days the rebellion was suppressed by the state militia, and over 150 black people were killed – most of whom were not involved in the rebellion.
Turner himself eluded capture for six weeks, but he was soon discovered nearby, hiding among the local Nottoway people.
Arrested and trialled, Turner was sentenced to death in 1831. His body was then dissected and flayed, his skin being used to make purses as souvenirs.
Turner’s rebellion may not have succeeded, but his example inspired countless black revolutionaries who followed in his footsteps, from Harriet Tubman to Malcolm X.
In fact, less than 30 years after Turner’s rebellion, John Brown and Harriet Tubman led another rebellion in Virginia, raiding the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry.
#natturner#turner#rebellion#slaverebellion#insurrection#southamptoninsurrection#slavery#slavetrade#trade#slaves#violence#johnbrown#harpersferry#harriettubman#tubman#malcolmx
On this day, August 20, 1619, the first African Slaves arrived on the shores of Point Comfort, Virginia, marking a beginning of two and a half brutal centuries of slavery in North America.
The “20 and odd” slaves, kidnapped by the Portuguese in modern day Angola, were then sold to English colonists and forced to work on plantations across the state.
During these transatlantic crossings, it wasn’t unusual for up to 50% of the enslaved passengers to die.
Slavery was finally abolished in Virginia in 1865 with the end of the American Civil War and the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment.
#slavery#history#historian#slave#slavetrade#Virginia#Jamestown#atlantic#trade#emancipation#freedom#thirteenth
Today we're remembering William Wilberforce, who died on this day in 1833.
Born in Yorkshire in 1759, Wilberforce was a British politician and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade.
It was in the 1780s that Wilberforce first became involved in the abolitionist cause after meeting Thomas Clarkson, Granville Sharpe and Hannah Moore, who persuaded him to join their movement.
From then on, he devoted his life to fighting slavery, and he died just three days after hearing that the passage of the 1883 Slavery Abolition Act through Parliament was assured.
Of course, Wilberforce has become the historical face of the abolitionist movement, but there were many others whose names are less well-known, like Thomas Clarkson, Olaudah Equiano and Ignatius Sancho.
#williamwilberforce#wilberforce#slavery#abolition#abolitionist#abolitionism#clarkson#equiano#sancho#slave#slaves#history#slavetrade
As we enjoy the Juneteenth holiday weekend, let’s take a few moments to brush up on an important history lesson: Disability and Slavery. Swipe to learn about ableism at its worst.
Note: it has been brought to our attention that historians use "enslaved people" instead of "slaves”. This language separates a person's identity from their circumstance. We know that language matters and are working on an updated version of the guide to reflect that.
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Guide by @r.a.r.e.advoc8 & @zach_k_h of the Diversability Team
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[Alt Text-10 slides relating to Disability and Slavery featuring peach and cream gradient backgrounds with navy text. Individual image descriptions on each pic and in comments below.]
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#Juneteenth#BlackHistoryIsAmericanHistory#HistoryLesson#Slavery#Ableism
Zeal & Ardor - “Zeal & Ardor”
The Swiss/American metal act releases its third official studio album. Combining the soulful slave chants of black spiritual music with the ominous and satanic themes of black metal, musician Manuel Gagneux basically created a new genre. It reached its full potential on 2018’s "Stranger Fruit". Then "Wake of a Nation" EP (2020) hinted at a new direction with its electronic elements and political songwriting. However, "Zeal & Ardor" doesn’t go above and beyond. It feels more like a thematic sequel to "Stranger Fruit". The soul-inspired rhymes, harsh screams and thundering metal riffs are still present. And this is not necessarily a bad thing, because it remains such an intriguing combination. Though the instrumentation leans more towards progressive metal than black metal this time around. It results in some pretty badass and complex breakdowns, like the ones on "Erase" and "I Caught You". The more accessible tracks contain some industrial characteristics like drum pads and gritty synths, which keeps things fresh. However, the song structures on these tracks (like "Golden Liar" and "Bow") feel a bit uneventful. Towards the end of the record, Gagneux manages to surprise us again with "Hold Your Head Low" and "J-M-B", 2 tracks that feel outside Zeal & Ardor’s comfort zone. "Zeal & Ardor" may not top its predecessor from 2018, but Gagneux’s songwriting and producing talents still shine through on this apocalyptic record.
Best track: “Erase”
Rating: 8
Released: February 11, 2022
MVKA
Share your thoughts!
#albumreview#albumreviews#musicreview#musiccritic#musicblog#musicpage#vinyl#vinylcollection#rateyourmusic#aoty#albumcoverart#alternativemusic#metalmusic#rockmusic#blackmetal#progressivemetal#spirituals#spiritualsoul#soulmusic#bluesmusic#zealandardor#manuelgagneux#blacklivesmatter#slavery#avantgardemetal