The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 1: The Witnesses by Sharon Ewell Foster

Author:Sharon Ewell Foster
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Howard Books
Published: 2011-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

chapter 50

They laughed and frowned at her old name, Nikahywot, the source of life. They told Nikahywot that her name was Nancie. Nancie was a better name. They smiled, nodding. It was so much easier for them to say. So, in an instant, all the things that went with her name—being a daughter, a mother, a beautiful wife, being chewa, being Ethiopian, her ancestors, being Egzi’abher’s daughter—were gone. Her family was gone, her village was gone, and her church. Her language dissolved and there was no Tis Isat, no Nile, and no mountains. When they took her name, there were no stories and no songs, no hopes and dreams or faith. When they took her name they murdered her. They took Ethiopia and Krestos.

They re-created her with the new name that was easier for them to say. She began with them, the name said to her. They gave birth to her with the new name and with the new name they became gods.

Her robes were gone and so was her shawl, her netela. They dressed her in a muslin shift. She touched the tip of her tongue to the tatter tucked inside her cheek. She did it so they would not see it and take the last thing she had away.

There was nothing before, the new name told her. But Nikahywot vowed that she would not forget.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down,

yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song;

and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying,

Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

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