Christian Preachers As Enemies Of The State, Part 1: Alexander Bedward

<p><em>Content Warning: this episode contains mentioned of physical and emotional abuse. If this is something that you know is a trigger for you, please skip forward to 8 minutes in this episode or if you rather just not, please checkout other episodes of the Lest We Forget Podcast.&nbsp;</em></p> <p><br></p> <p>Alexander Bedward, emerged during 1889 as a minister in the Jamaica Native Baptist Free Church. Throughout the 1890’s and beyond, he would emerged as one of the leading christian preachers in Jamaica. Tales of his healing power in the Hope River, his power of prophecy and his proclamation of been a reincarnation of Christ and would ring out throughout the island, the rest of Caribbean region and even as far as Costa Rica. Thousands travel to August Town to be baptised and witness the great preacher in action. Still, Bedward emerge as one of the earliest black nationalists in Jamaica. Bedward called on the black majority to organise and take action against the institution of racial discrimination, socio-economic deprivation, injustice, the tyranny of minority colonial rule that exist on the island. &nbsp;Even though he was respected by the oppressed masses on the island, attracting thousands of followers, he was feared by the upper classes and colonial authorities, who saw him as a threat to political stability that was given even more priority after the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion, which was led by men who were Native Baptist. This image of Bedward by the colonial powers would lead to over 20 years of him been labeled as an enemy of the state where eventually, he was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to the lunatic asylum, where he later died.</p> <p><br></p> <p>For additional reading information on this episode, visit our website at: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0tqb3ZfV0RON3RNcVZGS0RGU0FEVVRoUjhHUXxBQ3Jtc0tuTkl4T1hLLTk0RmVrYjBreVpuN2NMcXplY3ZzTTc1N1QzQktDN29nVFpsNTA5eGRGSXVCLU1mOEtfaUltcjJqRUVlVEFBejRKQXBSa3JGdi1FRTlyV09GUkNaUmlMaWZ4elNH