A YouTube video by Impacting Jamaica drew my attention to the Tacky Rebellion Bible. According to the video, the bible was seized by the British during the 1760 revolt led by Takyi (also commonly known as Tacky). I tried to find out more about the bible as it would be useful for my research paper, some sources were questionable but here are my findings nonetheless.
The Tacky Rebellion Bible is a historical artifact associated with one of the largest slave uprisings in colonial Jamaica, known as the Tacky Rebellion of 1760. The Bible was believed to have been carried by one of the leaders of the revolt and is significant for its connection to African resistance against slavery in the Caribbean.
The rebellion was part of a broader wave of revolts and uprisings throughout the Caribbean during the 18th century, driven by the brutality of the transatlantic slave trade and the harsh conditions of slavery on plantations. The rebellion began in May 1760 in the St. Mary parish of Jamaica and quickly spread across several parts of the island. Several hundred enslaved Africans were involved in the attack, but their efforts were eventually suppressed by the British colonial forces. Tacky's Rebellion remains one of the most significant uprisings in the history of enslaved resistance in the Caribbean.
Religious texts, including the Bible, played a complex role in the lives of enslaved Africans. Although Christianity was widely used by enslavers as a tool of control and subjugation, enslaved Africans found ways to interpret Christian teachings in ways that supported their resistance and desire for freedom. It is suggested that the Bible might have been used as a form of symbolic leadership or motivation for the rebels during the revolt.
Today it's not 100% clear who has the Bible, some claim it forms part of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust collection.
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