September 11th is less than a month away. I'm determined to enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation, so I plan to be elsewhere. Perhaps in Southampton County, Virginia ...
I've been thinking of places I'd like to visit, and I thought of a couple (notably Charleston, SC, New Orleans and Toronto), but I've settled on Courtland, the county seat of Southampton County, Virginia. This is where, in August 1831, Nat Turner lead about 40 slaves to revolt, killing about 60 white men, women and children. Whites retaliated by killing not only the slaves guilty of the murders, but countless innocent slaves. Yes, it is written that 200 Black men, women and children were killed because of this revolt, but the extreme expendability of Black life that was slavery coupled with enhanced white fear and panic makes that number seem extremely conservative. After all, we ARE talking about Virginia.
You might be thinking, "Why the hell is he going there for rest and relaxation?" It will definitely be a meditation for me, a very literary one. I'll be reading The Confessions of Nat Turner, an account recorded by white lawyer Thomas R. Gray who questioned him in his jail cell during three days just before his execution by hanging. I would also like to read William Styron's book of the same name and, if I can get my hands on a copy, William Styron's Nat Turner: Ten Black Writers Respond, edited by John Henrik Clarke. It is quite unusual for me to read this much in a week, but I'm inspired to connect to this ancestor. Besides, I might start reading during the prior week. The icing on the cake will be the tour of the Nat Turner Trail (contact H. Khalif Khalifah for tour info). It doesn't surprise me that most of the homes on the trail are now private and do not allow visitors, but I'm sure that won't stop the convening of spirits.
Did you ever read all these books.
I have styron’s book but it is in a long queue of books that I have to read.
I might never get to it and the 10 Black writers respond. I have my opinion already. I listened to Styron defend himself last week on TV.
I think he meant well but I believe that even white people that mean well can do harm.
I think it can be a great books for whites but not blacks. Perspectives are so different.