#NatTurnerSyllabus is the culmination of a three-and-a-half week writing unit undertaken by students attending LAYC Career Academy in Washington, DC. Led by Mr. Rashid Darden, novelist and facilitator of the #DavidBowieSyllabus, this project collects resources on Nat Turner that the students themselves have decided would be of use to other students and educators.
Integral to the conversations in the Nat Turner Unit were the film The Birth of a Nation and the documentary Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property.
Guided by the broad notion of freedom, students discussed various pathways toward freedom, including Rebellion (as exemplified by Nat Turner), Sacrifice (as evidenced by Margaret Garner), Cunning (as shown by Rachel Findlay), Flight (through the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman), and Hope (demonstrated by the vast majority of enslaved Africans who waited in patience for the world’s morality to surpass it’s greed).
The students who enrolled in the Nat Turner Unit would like to thank all who contributed meaningful writing and created significant pieces of art to keep the facts and the legends of Nat Turner alive for generations to come.
Essays and Articles
General
- “10 Things You May Not Know About Nat Turner’s Rebellion,” Christopher Klein, History.com, 2016
- “Nat Turner and the Bloodiest Slave Rebellion in American History,” Heather E. Lacey, Inquiries, 2010, Vol. 2 No. 01
Abolitionist Movement
- “The Uprisings of Nat Turner and John Brown: Response and Treatment from the Abolitionist Movement and the Press,” Franco A. Paz, Inquiries, 2016, Vol. 8 No. 05
Authenticity and Identity
- “The Real Nat Turner,” Molefi Kete Asante, 2009
Birth of a Nation: Critiques
- “‘The Birth of a Nation’ is bombing at the box office, but still worth seeing,” Chris Anthony, The Mesa Press, 2016
- “The Historical Fiction of The Birth of a Nation,” Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 2016
- ‘The Birth Of A Nation’ Review: Nat Turner’s Slave Rebellion Loses Some Power In Flawed Movie Treatment,” Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood, 2016
- “‘Birth Of A Nation,’ The Historian’s Review: A Scholar Considers Use Of The Past In Parker’s Movie-For-Today,” Patrick H. Breen, Deadline Hollywood, 2016
Birth of a Nation: Impact
- “Smaller Chains And Indie Theaters Join Fox Searchlight In ‘Birth’ Voter Registration Drive,” Michael Cieply, Deadline Hollywood, 2016
Birth of a Nation: Making
- ‘Birth Of A Nation’ Composer On Scoring Film’s Violent Third Act: “You Shouldn’t Feel Bloodlust,” Ross A. Lincoln, Deadline Hollywood, 2016
Birth of a Nation: Nate Parker Controversy
- “Filmmaker’s Controversial Past Takes Its Toll On ‘Birth Of A Nation’ At The B.O.,” Anthony D’Alessandro, Deadline Hollywood, 2016
Nat Turner’s Remains
- “Nat Turner’s Skull and My Student’s Purse of Skin,” Diana Ramey Berry, New York Times, 2016
Descendants
- “Watch: The Crazy Historical Connections Left Out Of ‘60 Minutes’ Nate Parker ‘Birth Of A Nation’ Segment,” Mike Fleming, Jr., Deadline Hollywood, 2016
Representations in Theater
- “How Slave Rebellion Leader Nat Turner Spent His Last Night,” Tim Teeman, the Daily Beast, 2016
Theology
- “As Nat Turner led a bloody slave rebellion, he carried this bible,” Krissah Thompson, The Washington Post, 2016
Nonfiction Books and Chapters
Books
- The Confessions of Nat Turner, Thomas Gray, 1831
- American Negro Slave Revolts, Herbert Aptheker, 1983
- The Birth of a Nation: Nat Turner and the Making of a Movement, Nate Parker, 2016
- The Confessions of Nat Turner: with Related Documents, 2nd Edition (Bedford Series in History and Culture), Kenneth S. Greenberg, 2016
- The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion (Reissue Edition), Stephen B. Oates, 2016
- The Land Shall Be Deluged in Blood: A New History of the Nat Turner Revolt, Patrick H. Breen, 2016
- The Nat Turner Insurrection Trials: A Mystic Chord Resonates Today, Walter L. Gordon, III, 2009
- Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory, Kenneth Greenberg, 2004
- Nat Turner’s Slave Rebellion: Including the 1831 “Confessions,” Herbert Aptheker, 2006
- The Second Crucifixion of Nat Turner, John Henrik Clarke, 1998
- A Theological Account of Nat Turner: Christianity, Violence, and Theology, Karl Lampley, 2013
- Tomorrow Jerusalem: The Story of Nat Turner and the Southampton Slave Insurrection, Bill Bryant, 2001
Children’s Books
- Nat Turner and Slave Life on a Southern Plantation (Jr. Graphic African American History), Katie Kelley Schmid, 2013
- Nat Turner’s Slave Rebellion, Michael Burgan, 2006
Chapters
- “The House of Bondage,” The Negro in the Making of America, Third Edition, 1996
Fiction, Poetry, & Short Stories
Fiction, Nat Turner:
- Nat Turner, Kyle Baker, 2008
- The Confessions of Nat Turner, William Styron, 1967
Fiction, Slavery:
- Beloved, Toni Morrison, 1987
- Birth of a Dark Nation, Rashid Darden, 2013
- The Book of Negroes/Someone Knows My Name, Lawrence Hill, 2007
- Kindred, Octavia Butler, 1979
- Queen, Alex Haley, 1992
- Roots: The Saga of an American Family, Alex Haley, 1976
- Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead, 2016
Poetry
- My Name is Nat Turner, Alicia A., Thunder Bay
- The Ballad of Nat Turner, by Robert Hayden
- Death is Nothing, James W. Lewis
- Remembering Nat Turner, Sterling Allen Brown
- Strange Fruit, Abel Meeropol
- Northern Slaves, Mustapha Mohammed
Film & Video
Nat Turner Films
Slavery Era Films and Television
- 12 Years a Slave [2013]
- A House Divided: Denmark Vesey’s Rebellion [1982]
- A Woman Called Moses [1978]
- Alex Haley’s Queen [1993]
- Amistad [1993]
- Beloved [1998]
- The Book of Negroes [2015]
- Brother Future [1991]
- C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America [2004]
- Glory [1989]
- The Journey of August King [1995]
- Lincoln [2012]
- The North Star [2016]
- Prince Among Slaves [2006]
- The Retrieval [2013]
- Roots [2016]
- Roots [1977]
- Roots: The Next Generation [1979]
- Sankofa [1993]
- Unchained Memories [2003]
Nat Turner Videos
Nat Turner Mixtape
Albums
- The Birth of a Nation: The Inspired By Album, 2016
- 12 Years A Slave (Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture), 2013
Songs
- All Black Everything, Lupe Fiasco
- Canaan
- Eyes on the Prize, Mavis Staples
- Follow the Drinking Gourd
- King Kunta, Kendrick Lamar
- Let My People Go
- Queen of the Field, Alicia Keys
- Roll Jordan Roll, John Legend
- Strange Fruit, Billie Holiday, 1939
- The Show Goes On, Lupe Fiasco, 2011
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
- Wade in the Water
Websites & Lesson Plans
Websites
- The Nat Turner Project
- Nat Turner: A Troublesome Propety
- Africans in America, Part Three: Brotherly Love
- Documenting the American South
Birth of a Nation Materials
- Birth of a Nation Curriculum Guide [BazanED]
- Birth of a Nation Discussion Guide [BazanED]
Lesson Plans
This is an excellent lesson plan that can be adapted for different reading levels.
This lesson plan includes extensive primary source documents and discussion questions.
This is a traditional lesson plan for elementary students on Nat Turner. It includes background information on geography, American History, and slavery. This also has an extensive reference list.
This information is excellent for online learning or a blended classroom. It is for higher level readers.
This lesson includes a basic timeline for students, reported direct quotes, vocabulary with definitions, and guiding questions.
This is a brief 1 or 2 day lesson on Nat Turner. It includes select confessions and and 2 suggested exercises.
This lesson plan includes a video and online activities.
Lesson plans that include graphic organizers.
Reflections
I am free
I am free of weight
I am free of pain
I am free from feeling ugly
I am free of guilt
I am free of being beautiful
I am free to express myself
I am free to wear my hair the way i want to
I am free to smile
I’m free to be Diamond Denise
–Diamond C., LAYC Career Academy
I am free.
Freedom to me means that I don’t have to question “Am I free?”
Freedom for me is being able to go outside and not worry about a police officer abusing his or her power.
Freedom for me is not seeing stories of people rejected for their hairstyle, sexual orientation, or gender.
Freedom to me is not being afraid of voicing an opinion without a social justice warrior criticizing me for it.
Freedom to me is being able to confidently say I AM FREE!
Maurice D., LAYC Career Academy
What does freedom mean to me?
To me freedom is when when I am able to do anything I want. Freedom is when no one tells you what to do. Freedom is doing things your own way. Freedom is a privilege. For example, knowing you don’t have to wake up early the next day to go to work.
This relates to Nat Turner because he was a slave and he wanted to be free. Nat Turner fought for freedom. He did many things and even tried to help others to set them free.
Juan G., LAYC Career Academy
What freedom means to me
Freedom make me believe
that all can achieve.
That no one will stand in my way,
because I can prevail.
That my future is bright
because people were brave enough to fight.
Freedom was made when the kings were betrayed.
When wars broke out
until the enemies were in doubt.
The slavery was stopped
when the evil began to drop.
Everyone would fail
if Freedom wasn’t there
Freedom make me believe
that monarchy will be deceived
That people are right
and the royals are full of fright.
Freedom well never end
because the world is full of friends
–Mia C., LAYC Career Academy
On Freedom
My definition of freedom is the ability to be able to do anything at will.
I was very young when my parents were divorced. My biological father was never around and because of that, my mother would shelter me in the house. When I turned 11, I started to hang with my older brothers more. We would go to other neighborhoods just to go do anything to get some money. Most of the time, our activities were illegal so we had to run from the police often.
I got caught once when I was living in the DC area. I was 13 and ended up in a juvenile detention center for nine months. When I got out I was still fighting and still not listening my mother. After three years my mother sent me from DC back to live with my biological father in St. Louis. I was put out of three schools within a two year time frame. I had started working and started to enjoy life more.
Then my father had me locked up. I kept hearing the same cursed words he uttered before he had me arrested: “You’re a manipulative bitch! You got to go!”
I thought about it every night I laid in my cell. I had lost hope. The food was horrific and the conditions of the jail were really terrible.
Finally, after a year my charges were dismissed and I was released. When I grabbed my things from the storage clerk and walked out those doors, I was the happiest man I had ever been. I was free. I had gained my freedom back!
–John O., LAYC Career Academy