The Resurrection of Nat Turner : A shifting

historical perspective

Sharon Ewell Foster

www.theresurrectionofnatturner.com “Like” The Resurrection of Nat Turner on

Facebook

The Resurrection of Nat Turner

• The Confessions of Nat Turner Nov 1831

by Attorney Thomas Gray

• 180 years ago

• Fanatic, insane

The Resurrection of Nat Turner

• 1967 Pulitzer Prize Winner

• William Styron’s The

Confessions of Nat Turner

– Gray’s The Confessions of

Nat Turner

– The Southampton

Insurrection (1900)

by William Sidney Drewry

The Resurrection of Nat Turner • Thomas Gray was NOT Nat Turner’s

Attorney

• Nat Turner did NOT confess

• Ten judges sat for Turner’s trial

The Resurrection of Nat Turner

•Levi Waller’s

testimony/Nathaniel

Francis’ scam

•Cherry Turner and Nat

Turner’s bible

•Literate, Methodist

“preacher”, family man

•Revolutionary

The Resurrection of Nat Turner

•Nat Turner’s Ethiopian mother

•Congressman James Trezvant’s

hysterical alarm – “a general

uprising against all whites!”

The Resurrection of Nat Turner

The Resurrection of Nat Turner: a

shifting historical perspective

• A tool to foster discussion between

communities

• A vehicle to build self-esteem and combat

negative stereotypes -- heroes

• Enriches our understanding of African

American history and American history

• The need for greater scrutiny and “fact-

checking” in historical research.

The Resurrection of Nat Turner "Every once in a while a book shakes the

very foundation of what you believe like Alex Haley's Autobiography of Malcolm X. . . .The Resurrection of Nat Turner is in that category.”– Dr. Ray Winbush, Director of Urban Research Institute, Morgan State University, consultant on PBS’s "Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property

“She is blowing our minds!”—

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Author,

Professor, Cultural Critic

The Resurrection of Nat Turner

Parts 1 and 2

Sharon Ewell Foster

www.theresurrectionofnatturner.com

“Like” The Resurrection of Nat Turner on Facebook

"fast-paced . . .riveting and expertly told by an inspired, practiced

storyteller."--Publishers Weekly

"Foster uses her strong research skills

and her skill at turning historical names

into living, breathing humans to great

advantage."--Kirkus Review