Florida, as a beacon for freedom for enslaved fleeing bondage in South Carolina, is essentially part of the “untold and untaught “ history. It was this hope of freedom in Florida that inspired the Stono Rebellion of 1739.

In 1687, the first recorded group of Africans, including 8 men, 2 women, and nursing children, arrived in St. Augustine. In 1738, the Spanish governor of Florida chartered the settlement of Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, or Fort Mose, as a settlement of those enslaved fleeing the English colonies in the Carolinas. By 1738, there were 100 Africans, mostly runaways from the Carolinas, living in what became Ft. Mose.

The Stono Rebellion, which occurred on September 9, 1739, was the only large-scale rebellion in British North America, and the largest rebellion of enslaved people before the American Revolution. The goal of the rebellion was to reach Florida and to experience the freedom promised by the Spanish if they would convert to Catholicism and serve in the Spanish colonial militia.

The freedom fighter leader

The rebellion was organized by Jemmy, also known as “Cato”, from the Kingdom of Kongo, literate, and a military-trained soldier.

The trigger

The events that triggered Cato’s determination to rebel are unknown; however, stories passed along from house slaves to the quarters could have inspired the motivation to plan the rebellion. The word was that small bands of runaways had successfully made it to Florida. One can only imagine the feelings of hopefulness experienced by Cato. He must have felt a jolt in in body upon hearing the news, then probably a light-headed floating sensation, the possibility of freedom after what seemed like an eternity of the brutality of enslavement. His hopefulness turned to excitement; he is energized and provoked to act. In his eagerness to experience what was to come, he began to strategize, to share his plans with his Kongolese soldiers, and indicate his willingness to lead, while impatiently waiting for September 9.

The day for the rebellion was carefully chosen. Sunday was the perfect day to rebel because the planters would be in church and the plantations would be less guarded. Secondly, Cato and the others embraced the Catholic faith. As such, the recognized September 8, as a day of devotion and fasting in honor of the Virgin Mary. Knowing the dangers involved in rebelling, the group invoked the protection of the Blessed Virgin as they began the rebellion.

The rebellion began with Cato leading 20 other Kongolese soldiers, raiding a store and securing guns and ammunition. As they marched south towards Florida, they carried a banner claiming “Liberty” and shouted “freedom.” They beat drums and recruited other enslaved as planned. They were joined by 50 to 60 other enslaved people. As the group proceeded, they burned plantations and killed 20 whites, though the lives of other whites were spared.

The rebellion was suppressed when confronted by a militia of white colonists. Most of the rebels were killed then, and during the following weeks, others were executed or sold to plantations in the Caribbean. It is not known for sure if Cato was killed or successfully made it to freedom in Florida.

The significance of the Stono Rebellion

This rebellion again refuted the mythology of white supremacy concerning the docility and contentment of the enslaved. While enslaved had to conceal emotions in the presence of whites, as humans, they still experienced emotions of frustration, anger, and contempt related to their dehumanizing situation. The African tradition of drumming and dancing provided a means of emotional release; however, in a day-to-day existence, emotions were suppressed.

A second myth about the intellectual inferiority of the enslaved was refuted as well. Cato, a literate enslaved man, was able to choose the right day and time and organize the rebellion, starting with a few men but utilizing a strategy to gain recruits as they marched.

While the history of the rebellion is basically hidden, the fear it stoked in whites was immediate and extreme. The Negro Act of 1740 demonstrated the anxiety and fears of rebellion by the enslaved, though they were regarded as property and not humans with cognition or feelings. The Negro Act of 1740 was extreme and further dehumanizing. It prohibited enslaved people from growing their own food, moving freely, learning to read, assembling in groups, and earning money. White enslavers were authorized to whip and kill enslaved Africans who were deemed to be rebellious.

Very interesting that the new state of Florida social studies standards (2024), which includes African American history, teaches that the enslaved developed skills and, in some way, benefited from enslavement. The 1739 Stono Rebellion clearly indicates that freedom at any cost was preferred to enslavement. Unless this truth is told and taught, the curriculum is deeply flawed and basically a lie.