Voices Against Slavery - Samuel Sharpe

Voices Against Slavery - Part 6
Samuel Sharpe


"Sam Sharpe was born into slavery on Jamaica in 1901. He was educated and became a deacon at the Burchell Baptist Church in Montego Bay. By reading newspapers, Sharpe learnt about the abolition movement in Britain so he organised a general strike to demand that all slaves should be paid for their work. However, the rebellion quickly led to voilence with the burning of sugar plantations and property. Sam Sharpe was captured and executed in 1832.

As a result of this uprising, missionaries from Jamaica went to Britain to campaign for the end of slavery, which happened in 1833. One week after the death of Sam Sharpe, the British government set up a committee to plan for the end of slavery. today Sam Sharpe is one of Jamaica's National Heroes."


p. 88 of Voices Against Slavery by Catherine House