Nat Turner Takes Gabriel`s Lead in Setting
Things Straight
Things Straight
Gabriel was born a slave of Thomas Prosser
the same year the American Republic,
based on equality and liberty, was also born.
The hypocrisy being obvious Gabriel grew to plan
a far ranging slave rebellion in Virginia. The plans
fell apart and Gabriel was captured and hung in
1800. That same year Nathaniel was born,
the property of Benjamin Turner. Nathaniel,
in 1831, led the largest slave rebellion in
US American history. In the end he was also
stopped, captured and hung.
the same year the American Republic,
based on equality and liberty, was also born.
The hypocrisy being obvious Gabriel grew to plan
a far ranging slave rebellion in Virginia. The plans
fell apart and Gabriel was captured and hung in
1800. That same year Nathaniel was born,
the property of Benjamin Turner. Nathaniel,
in 1831, led the largest slave rebellion in
US American history. In the end he was also
stopped, captured and hung.
In the right hand, representing the physical, Gabriel holds a hammer.
The slave, Gabriel, was himself a trained blacksmith.
This training, and thus skill, gave Gabriel more freedom of movement.
The freedom allowed Gabriel to understand the hypocrisy of his situation.
The hammer, symbolic of work and the worker, represents the labour that we must go through to resolve the conflict.
In the left hand, representing the spiritual, Nat Turner holds a sword.
This represents the war against the backward thoughts that have kept us from progressing.
The sharp blade of the sword represents the rage that evolves from knowledge of ones exploitation.
The thinker represents the physical and the warrior represents the spiritual. The two together allow change.
In life and cause was Nathaniel a spiritual continuation of Gabriel. One paves the way for the other.
Nail figures are for solving conflict. When a conflict arises, the parties come together to clarify the misunderstanding. When a compromise is met, a nail is driven into the figure. Driving in the nail is the legitimisation of the solution. The nail opens a door between the world that we see and the spiritual world. If the solution is not carried out by the parties, then it is the obligation of the spiritual world to resolve the conflict.
In hammering these nails into Gabriel and Nathaniel, I set into action the resolution to our haunting history of slavery and to the inequalities that today exploit the working poor. That those on the bottom may have the freedoms that today come with wealth, those on the top must lose the wealth that comes with freedom. I do not mean that the rich shall lose their children to slavery. I do not necessarily mean that the Great Sons of Americans will work for no pay for their new African overlords or taste starvation or not have the freedom of vote. Angels bring warning to man from God. It is a warning of the hardships that men have made for themselves, denying others the fruits of their labour to furnish their own comfort.
When justice is already served, the Guilty have been punished, and the Wronged have been properly recompensed, then it is good and nothing more need happen. I recently read that the United States Government refused to participate in a United Nations Debate on racism, when retribution for slavery was a topic. I know that in the End, Justice will be served.
Hamburg, 10 October, 2003
Frederick Wright Jones
Nail figures are for solving conflict. When a conflict arises, the parties come together to clarify the misunderstanding. When a compromise is met, a nail is driven into the figure. Driving in the nail is the legitimisation of the solution. The nail opens a door between the world that we see and the spiritual world. If the solution is not carried out by the parties, then it is the obligation of the spiritual world to resolve the conflict.
In hammering these nails into Gabriel and Nathaniel, I set into action the resolution to our haunting history of slavery and to the inequalities that today exploit the working poor. That those on the bottom may have the freedoms that today come with wealth, those on the top must lose the wealth that comes with freedom. I do not mean that the rich shall lose their children to slavery. I do not necessarily mean that the Great Sons of Americans will work for no pay for their new African overlords or taste starvation or not have the freedom of vote. Angels bring warning to man from God. It is a warning of the hardships that men have made for themselves, denying others the fruits of their labour to furnish their own comfort.
When justice is already served, the Guilty have been punished, and the Wronged have been properly recompensed, then it is good and nothing more need happen. I recently read that the United States Government refused to participate in a United Nations Debate on racism, when retribution for slavery was a topic. I know that in the End, Justice will be served.
Hamburg, 10 October, 2003
Frederick Wright Jones