The rebellion was originally planned for July 4, 1831. The date was deliberate. Turner understood the symbolism of American independence. Illness delayed the effort, and the group regrouped in August. On the night of August 21, Turner and six others began the uprising at the Travis plantation, where Turner was enslaved.

In 1987, the McCleskey v. Kemp case shifted the focus on systemic racism in America, particularly regarding the death penalty. The case exposed the stark inequalities faced by racial minorities within the justice system, ultimately altering the landscape of racial justice in the United States.