"I Gave You Power"
His slave masters were more than happy to let him preach—until they realized he wasn’t just parroting what they wanted him to say.
Turner was allowed to speak because his masters saw it as a way to keep the enslaved under control. As long as he delivered the message they approved, everything was fine. But Nat Turner wasn’t just a mouthpiece for their twisted version of Christianity. He studied the Bible deeply, thinking critically about its messages, and began to see something far different—stories of liberation, justice, and divine punishment for oppressors.
When Turner began to interpret the Bible for himself, he saw himself and his people in the stories of Moses and the Israelites—people who were freed from bondage by the same God who could empower him to fight for his own freedom. The moment his sermons shifted from obedience to a call for rebellion, his masters realized they had underestimated the power of an informed, independent mind.
Turner’s uprising in 1831 wasn’t just a spontaneous act of violence; it was the culmination of his spiritual and intellectual awakening. He refused to accept the narrative forced upon him, instead finding a call to action in the very scriptures that had been used to keep him and his people in chains.
Now, fast forward to today’s political landscape. We often hear about the importance of voter participation, especially in communities that have historically been marginalized. Many groups and leaders encourage this as a vital part of democracy. But how often do we see real support for independent thinking—especially when voters start to ask critical questions about whether the policies they’re being asked to support actually align with their own interests?
It’s easy to cheer for voter engagement when people stick to the script. But what happens when they start processing information for themselves, questioning the status quo, and demanding more from those in power? Suddenly, the enthusiasm for their participation fades when those questions make the comfortable uncomfortable.
So, when Black men begin to critically evaluate the policies on the table and ask whether these policies truly serve their communities, let’s remember Nat Turner. True empowerment isn’t about following the script—it’s about owning your voice and speaking your truth, even when it disrupts the system.
Let’s support independent thinking, encourage critical questions, and never underestimate the power of a mind that refuses to be controlled.
#BlackHistory #NatTurner #CriticalThinking #BlackVotersMatter
