The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-01-09

of them were hung, burned or gibbeted on the
public square.
But that these atrocities failed in their pur-
pose to destroy the revolutionary spirit of the
Negroes by exhibiting before them the tor
tured and battered bodies of their comrades
and leaders, is evidenced in the fact that in
1741 there was another revolt in the same
CITY, significant thing in this second at
tempt is that when the leaders of the revolt
were arrested and put to death, four whites
were among those executed, showing clearly
not only the class character of the revolt but
the solidarity of black and white workers.
Various other uprisings of Negroes in the
18th Century are reported from time to time
and in widely different localities. In 1928
revolt occurred in Boston, in 1880 Negro in
Maiden, Mass, burnt the home of his master
because he had been sold to man whom he
disliked. In 1871 Negro slaves being i'm
ported from Guinea mutinied, killing three of
the crew; in 1882 a John Major of New Hamp
shire was murdered with his entire crew and
in 1875, the Dolphin, a slave ship, was blown
up off the West Coast of Africa.
During the revolutionary period of 1776,
when the colonies were struggling for their
own independence, new attitude was seen
to spring up in regard to the Negro. The
British attempted to secure the aid of the
Negroes, not only by enlisting them into their
ranks for actual fighting but by melting the
slaves to rebel. The Colonies, in order to
counterfeit the activities of the British and also
to enlist the aid of the slaves for their own
cause, promised them wonderful things after
the Colonies had gained their own indepen-
dence from England.
Promises Broken.
1t developed, however, that in these prom
fsoe DO 70 rEorc bv
the ruling class, the masters were simply
dipping the slaves, for soon after the Revolu-
ton and when peace had been established we
see concentrated campaign carried on to sup
press the Negroes and especially to cover and
"put in their place" those slaves who had seen
service in the war.
But the Negroes would not be cowed. Realiz-
ing what it would mean could they but realize
the dreams painted for them by the rich ruling
class during the Revolution and greatly in
fluenced by the success of the Haitian revolt
which produced as it's outstanding hero, the
great Toussaint LOuverture, to be followed by
the even more determined Dessalines, the Ne
groes prepared again to strike a blow for
freedom! This decision found expression in
the revolt in Richmond, Va, in 1800 led by
the fearless Gabriel Prosser. News of this
attempt at instruction caused the ruling class
planned an elaborate attack and had set the
date for Sept. LIST. And but for terrible
hail storm which occurred on this day the his
tory of the Negro in Virginia might be much
different. The failure to strike on the given
date resulted in his plans being betrayed, and
when he did strike the white ruling class was
prepared for him.
Revolts in Carolina.
Following close upon these outbreaks came
uprisings in Suffolk County, Petersburg, Eden
ton, N. c., Charleston, S. c., and many Others
An elaborate revolt planned for Camden in
1916 was betrayed by slave 1t is sgnifi-
cant that in this instance, the Negroes had
decided to harm none of the French of the
town, showing conclusively that they had been
affected by the French Revolution Later
followed out breaks in Tarboro, Newberne, and
Hillsboro, N. c., and in 1919 an attempt was
made to destroy the City Of Augusta in Ca
Outbreaks were also reported in Baltimore
Norfolk, Petersburg and New Orleans.
In 1922, however, occurred what up to this
time was the most determined of the attempts
on the part of the oppressed Negroes to free
themselves. This was the revolt ins Charles
ton of this year, led by free Negro, Denmark
Vesey. Vesey, who had been educated in San
Domingo and who had been greatly influ-
enced by the revolt there, had purchased his
own freedom with money he had won on a lot
terry. He emgrated to Charleston Being
good agitator, he used to meet with the Ne
groes in church in Hampstead, near Charles
ton and create discomfort in them with their
lot as slaves Instructions were given for the
struggle for freedom. Literature, branded Sc
ditious by the authorities, was distributed. He
exposed the Missouri Compromise, recruited
Negroes for eighty miles around, and planned
his attack for Christmas, 1921. Lists of thou
sands of recruits were drawn up. Money was
raised to purchase arms. In July, 1922, Vesey
made his attack, but as the failure of all the
uprisings were due to betrayal of the plans
to the ruling class by INSCRIPTIONS slaves,
Vesey's attempt also met the same fate. Some
faithful" slave had reported the plan to his
master. Vesey, along with IS others, were
caught and put to death.
But this did not put an end to the uprisings.
Throughout the country they continued to
occur from time to time. And now the Negro
masses join hand in hand with the white prolc-
tariat for the final uprising to destroy CAPT
talism.