Right on the Scaffold, or The Martyrs of 1822 The American Negro Academy. Occasional Papers No. 7

"Right on the Scaffold, or The Martyrs of 1822" by Archibald Henry Grimké is a recounting of Denmark Vesey's life, a man who, after experiencing enslavement, spearheaded a thwarted uprising against slavery in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1822. The book tells of the fight against oppression, the power of resistance and the deep yearning for freedom during American slavery. Grimké charts Vesey’s transition from a man in chains to a free man and influential figure, dedicated to the freedom of those still enslaved. It shows Vesey’s growing unease with the limitations on his own liberty and the widespread discrimination experienced by the Black community. Vesey secretly started to develop a plan to rebel and take down the system of slavery, but his plan was exposed, which led to the death of Vesey and others involved. Grimké’s story not only tells about what actually happened but also shines a bright light on the wide-ranging pain of those fighting for freedom in American history.