Nat Turner

Nat Turner's belief that he was a mystic, born for some great purpose; a spiritual savior, chosen to lead Black slaves to freedom, justified his bloody rebellion against slave owners in Virginia. His actions did not so much spring from the fact that members of his family had been beaten, separated or sold, but rather from his own deep sense of freedom spoken in the Bible. From the time Nat Turner was four-years-old, he had …

…of a prophecy. After he was put in prison, Turner gave his written Confessions. When asked if he thought his mission was a mistake, Turner answered, "Was not Christ crucified? And by signs in the heavens that it would make known to me when I should commence the great work" (Turner, Confessions 3). Nat Turner had to kill the serpent, to strike out against slavery and free his people. It was the fulfillment of his prophecy.