I am grateful to so many, like Karen Ball, Virelle Kidder, Deni Williamson, Sara Fortenberry, and Don Jacobson, who helped open the doors of publishing to me. Thanks to writer friends like Neta and Dave Jackson, Marilynn Griffith, Claudia Mair Burney, Stanice Anderson, Victoria Christopher Murray, Dr. Gail Hayes, and Karen Kingsbury, who have been sources of inspiration and wise counsel.
Thanks to the editorial team members at Howard and Simon & Schuster like Julee Schwarzburg, and especially to Dave Lambert, whose editorial insight and belief in me and this project helped it come to fruition.
Thank you to my agent, Mark Sweeney.
Faced with what seemed to be only closed doors and no budget, I am more than grateful to people who stood in the gap: Stanice Anderson and her son, Mike Tucker, who stepped out on faith and became Anderson & Tucker Agency—Publicity, Marketing & Promotion Architects. What you’ve accomplished has been remarkable. Thank you also to Dee Stewart, Marina Woods, and GoodGirlBookclubonline.com, Tia Ross and the Black Writers Alliance, Shana Adams and the Durham Arts Council, Ella Curry and Black Pearls, Linda Beed, Yango Sawyer, Joe Madison, Michael Eric Dyson, Monique Greenwood, Kam Williams, Regina Gail Malloy, and to the Washington Association of Black Journalists for beating the drums and helping spread the word about Nat Turner.
Thank you to all the warriors I have known, to those in my family and to those with whom I’ve worked. Blessings and love to my former Pentagon and DINFOS coworkers who have faithfully supported me, especially Lisa, Carol, Mark, Kenneth, Neil, Cody, John, Glenda, Robert, Tammi, and Edie. A special thanks to Marshall Dobson for sharing the psychology of battle.
Thank you to the host of librarians who have supported me through the years, like Jan Morley, Erica Holmes, Sharon Barrow, Saundra Cropps, and Sheryl Underwood. A special thank-you to those librarians who provided research assistance: Ann Southwell and Regina Rush at the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia; Elizabeth Burgess, collections manager at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center; Katherine Wilkins, assistant librarian at the Virginia Historical Society; and Chris Kolbe, archives research coordinator, Special Collections, Library of Virginia. Thank you also to Gary Vikan for sharing his knowledge of ancient Ethiopian art.
I am indebted to the descendants of Nat Turner, like Bruce Turner, and the rebellion’s victims for sharing their stories. I owe a special debt of gratitude to local historians, James McGee and Rick Francis. Mr. McGee and his lovely wife, Lavenia, welcomed my daughter and me into their home. He shared his artwork, memories—like his recollection of a lamp shade fashioned from Nat Turner’s skin—and the history of Southampton County. He left me with a charge: Find the truth and teach. I hope that I have met the challenge.
Mr. Francis, the great-grandson of Nathaniel Francis, was incredibly generous in sharing his time, local history and lore, and resources. It was he who confirmed the location of Nat Turner’s trial records. In between serving as Southampton County Clerk, spearheading the drive for the Nat Turner Trail in Virginia, he responded to emails, calls, and met with me when I came to Courtland seeking answers. Thank you for your openness, your courage, and your commitment to truth.
Thank you to Chief Walt Brown for sharing the history of the Cheroenhaka Nottoway, the significance of the Artis surname, and their connection to the Turner revolt.
Thank you to preachers and ministries who have taught me and prayed for me, like Bishop Walter S. Thomas and First Lady Patricia of New Psalmist Baptist Church of Baltimore; Rev. and Senator James Meeks and First Lady Jamell of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago; Mary Williams and the Bible Witness Camp of Pembroke, Illinois; First Lady Norma McLauchlin, Patricia Davis, and the Lady Lifers of New Life Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina; and to the inspiring Daily Guideposts family. Thanks to Dr. Wendy Campbell, Carl Prude, and my other brothers and sisters from East St. Louis.
Thank you to wonderful teachers like Mrs. Cannady, Miss Basin, and my beloved Mrs. Wachter. Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Evie Adams Welch, professor of African American studies and South African literature, who believed in me when I was a struggling, newly married, and pregnant freshman at Western Illinois University. She planted the seed for this book more than thirty years ago and whispered songs of Ethiopia. Thank you. Thank you to my Gashe Getachew Haile—curator of the Ethiopian Study Center, Regents Professor of Medieval Studies, and cataloguer of Oriental Manuscripts, Hill Monastic Manuscript Library at Saint John’s University—for sharing ancient Ethiopia with me.
To my friends and family, thank you for loving and believing in me, even when I struggle to believe in myself. Thank you Glenda, Theresa, Margaret Ann, Darlene, Mary, Joji, and many, many others. I am grateful to my father, brothers, nieces, nephews, cousins, and especially LaJuana. Lanea and Chase, there would have been no Nat Turner without the two of you. Thank you for your prayers, inspiration, friendship, and your impeccable editorial judgment. Thank you for covering me.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Thank you, Lord.