About

Morant Bay Rebellion In Jamaica: Causes, Consequences, Aftermath | HistoryExtra

This is a blog created for ENG470 Texts and Technology Capstone. This term, our class is focusing our attention on the Morant Bay Rebellion. This relatively unknown historical event ties to issues of racism, classism, sexism, and colonialism. 

Focal Event

To summarize, the Morant Bay rebellion occurred on October 11th, 1865 when protesters gathered to fight against the economic and racial tensions of the time. In response, Governor John Eyre issued a horrendously violent retaliation of the rebellion, killing 400 or more Jamaican Natives. 

Blog Intentions

This blog highlights digital tools that make studying the Morant Bay Rebellion more accessible to anyone interested in learning more about it. Because this rebellion encompasses so much, utilizing digital humanities resources such as Voyant, transcriptions, and data visualizations showcases content in various digestible methods. Not only that, but I also tie personal connections to my journey of exploring and navigating these tools.

Final Project 

My final project aims to shine a spotlight on the story of George William Gordon. Throughout this course, we’ve learned a lot about the important figures of the time, but Gordon’s story stood out to me. His upbringing, education, influence, identity, and the way his life came to an end are all pieces to a puzzle that create a larger picture. I believe his life story needs to be both shared and unpacked. Using Omneka.net to create an exhibit essay is an effective way to show both visual and written elements to tell a story of courage, morality, injustice, and racism. In my final project, I argue that his life story, particularly his execution highlights how his racial identity and threat to the system of powers led to his unjust death.

Reverend George William Gordon, Jamaican insurrectionist, November, 1865, artist's impression | House Divided

The Importance of DH Tools

While I haven’t yet finished this project, what I have completed so far has taught me how immensely useful DH tools are in creating a body of humanitarian work through a digital lens. The ability to study an underresearched topic and create a resource that not only I, but anyone can use, is extremely powerful. The Morant Bay rebellion is something everyone should know about. I hope that now, this information can be useful for those interested in this major historic event.