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Heroes and Rebellions

Resistance to enslavement

The enslavement of African people was a horrific practice that has had lasting effects on many generations of people of African descent. The way this history is told often makes it seem like African people did not fight back and just accepted their fate, but this is not true. Many African people resisted and rebelled.

Resistance among enslaved Africans began the moment they were captured, and it took many different forms. Some chose to do the following:

  • Speak their native language in private
  • Practice African culture, like drumming
  • Appear to accept Christianity, but secretly practise their religion
  • Run away
  • Poison their enslavers
  • Damage tools or machinery

Below is a list of some heroes and rebellions from during the time of African enslavement and colonization to modern day:

  • Gaspar Yanga (1545-1618
  • Olivier le Jeune (n.d.-1654)
  • New York Slave Revolt (1712)
  • Marie-Joseph Angelique (1705 [?] -1734)
  • Stono Rebellion (1739)
  • Tacky’s Revolt (1760-1761)
  • Cuffy and Guyana (n.d.-1763)
  • Chloe Cooley (late 1700s)
  • Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)
  • Gabriel’s Conspiracy (1800)
  • Nat Turner (1800-1831)
  • German Coast Uprising (1811)
  • The Baptist War (1831-1832) and the Maroons
  • Amistad Ship Revolt (1839)
  • Creole ship revolt (1841)
  • Denmark Vesey (1762-1822)
  • Maji Maji Rebellion (1905-1907)
  • Zulu Rebellion (1906)