Brother Denmark Vesey, a freed slave and one of the original founders of Emanuel AME Church (the church that the White Supremacist terrorist Dylan Roof chose to wage his race battle) was the chief planner of a slave revolt in Charleston, South Carolina in 1822. His plan wasn’t to slaughter White people like they’ve slaughtered us for hundreds of years. Rather, his plan was to use firearms to win the freedom of Melaninated people by fighting their way to the docks and commandeering a ship and sailing to Haiti (which had already defeated the French and won their independence). Unfortunately, the revolt was uncovered by slave owners after being notified by Uncle Tom and coonish Melaninated people. Brother Vesey was a righteous leader who was truly going to use force, with the aid of guns, to save his people from involuntary servitude.

Melaninated men of faith need to take note of Brother Vesey’s courage and conviction. God instructs us to be innocent like doves, but wise as serpents. White Supremacists have shown they want us dead, so it’s time that we take action along with prayer. The Bible says that faith without works is dead and an old African proverb says that when you pray, move your feet. It’s time that we protect those who are in our care, which are our fellow Melaninated people. We need to stay prayed-up and stay armed.

by J. Ware

**EDITOR’S NOTE** The following meme briefly explains the Deacons for Defense, a group of Black church deacons in the 1960’s who took the initiative to protect their churches, families, and communities Unfortunately, you can also see how far that movement has regressed some fifty years later.