John Brown, The Blackest White Man (1800 – 1859)

John Brown, The Blackest White Man in American History (1800 – 1859)

John Brown, The Blackest White Man(1800 – 1859)

John Brownwas anAmericanabolitionistand a TrueHero whoused violentactions tofight slavery.During 1856in Kansas,Browncommandedforces at the

Battle of Black Jack and the Battle of Osawatomie. Brown's followersalso killed five pro-slavery supporters at Pottawatomie. In 1859,abolitionist John Brown led a small group on a raid against a federalarmory in Harpers Ferry in an attempt to start an armed slave revolt anddestroy the institution of slavery. Brown was arrested, tried, and hung.

"John Brown: A White Role Model" by William LorenKatz

John Brown was born in 1800, and he was executed by the state ofVirginia on December 2, 1859. This year (2006) a PBS documentaryfilm continued an effort that began even before his execution to sullyhis reputation. Why? He was a white man who gave his life fightingslavery but he did so before Lincoln issued the EmancipationProclamation. He was a premature “emancipationist.” However, twoyears after John Brown’s death Union soldiers marched into the Southsinging of the man—”his truth goes marching on.” In the year 2000PBS film finds no truths about Brown worth repeating. Thedocumentary begins with a long, slow scene showing Brown being ledto the gallows and ends with a long slow scene showing him being ledto the gallows. This could seem like a warning to similarly inclinedwhite people, and the public deserves better.

Brown was a devout Christian who saw slavery as violence and whosefavorite Biblical quote was “Remember them that are in bonds, asbound with them.” He swore his entire family to the anti-slavery

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struggle; led armed bands that rescued enslaved people, and was anactive agent of the underground railroad. In 1856 Brown foughtslaveholders’ fire with rifle fire in the Kansas Civil War. He was not aman to be trifled with. When President James Buchanan offered a $250reward for Brown’s capture, he offered $2.50 for Buchanan’s.

In 1858, he met in Canada with dozens of African Americans,including the father of Black nationalism, Martin R. Delany, to develophis liberation plan. The next year Brown led five African Americans,and 17 whites including three of his sons, to seize the governmentarsenal at Harper’s Ferry. Their goal was to arm enslaved people, helpthem reach the Allegheny mountains, help them wage a war againstbondage.

Enslaved African Americans rallied to Brown’s forces at Harper’sFerry, but this has long been hidden from the public. Federal troopsunder Captain Robert E. Lee who commanded a Marine detachmentsurrounded the arsenal and boxed in Brown’s men. Ten of the raidersdied fighting, five escaped, including one African American, andBrown and the others were captured. Virginia tried and convictedBrown of treason. Attending his execution were Lee, StonewallJackson, and John Wilkes Booth, three men soon to embark on a moremassive treason of their own.

School textbooks have not forgiven Brown for his interracial band, hisfearlessness, and his armed response to slavery. The textbook, “TheAmerican Pageant” by Bailey and Kennedy describes Brown’s exploitas “insane,” “mad exploit,” “crack-brained scheme,” “bloody purpose.”

African Americans saw Brown differently. They saw a man who lookedat slavery as they did. Haiti, born of a slave rebellion, named aboulevard after him. W.E.B. DuBois called his biography of Brown hisfavorite book. Benjamin Quarles wrote a book on the positive responseto the man and his deed by African Americans. In 1964, Malcolm Xasked if would admit a white man to his new organization, said “JohnBrown.” This year Harlem’s Schomburg Center for Research in BlackCulture honored Brown with a special program, and I was a speakerthere.

Brown was born the year that Gabriel organized a massive slave plot tocapture Richmond, Virginia, and the year Nat Turner, who would lead amassive slave revolt in Virginia, was born. Brown pledged his familyand his life to the destruction of bondage and white supremacy. At eachstep of the way he involved African Americans in his plans. At theBrown dinner table house Black children for the first time heard whitepeople refer to their parents as “Mr. Smith” and “Mrs. Smith.”

John Brown’s raid proved that free and enslaved people of color ifgiven a chance would rise against bondage. It further proved that somewhites were ready to join them and fight to the death. When captured,Brown refused any effort to save his life by pleading insanity andturned down a rescue plan. He used the forty days between his captureand his execution to focus national attention on slavery’s evil. His lastnote before his death said prophetically, “I am now quite certain thatthe crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but withBlood.”

In death Brown became a martyr to millions. Garibaldi called him a“Jesus.” Victor Hugo called him “an apostle and a hero,” and on behalfof citizens of France gave his family a John Brown medal. “Americahas been hanged in John Brown,” wrote a Polish patriot. Black peopledeclared a Martyr’s Day and in slave Baltimore placed his picture ontheir walls. Henry David Thoreau said, “He taught us how to live” andabolitionist William Lloyd Garrison said, “He told us what time of dayit was, it was high noon.” Frederick Douglass said, “John Brown beganthe war that ended American slavery and made this a free Republic.”

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Sixteen months after Brown was hanged, slaveholders began a civilwar that took 600,000 lives. Before it was over 200,000 AfricanAmericans served in the Union Army and Navy, and in 39 major battlesthey turned the tide against the Confederacy. Black troops carried themessage of Gabriel, Turner and Brown as they liberated their sistersand brothers.

During the John Brown program at the Schomburg Center, a HaitianAmerican asked me why Haiti has a John Brown Boulevard, and theUnited States does not. He raised a very important question.

More articles and information about William Loren Katz 40 books andlectures.

During his sentencing, on November 2, 1859 John Brown made thefollowing statement:

I have, may it please the court, a few words to say.

In the first place, I deny everything but what I have all alongadmitted, -- the design on my part to free slaves. I intendedcertainly to have made a clean thing of that matter, as I didlast winter, when I went into Missouri and took slaveswithout the snapping of a gun on either side, moved themthrough the country, and finally left them in Canada. Idesigned to do the same thing again, on a larger scale. Thatwas all I intended. I never did intend murder, or treason, orthe destruction of property, or to excite or incite slaves torebellion, or to make insurrection.

I have another objection; and that is, it is unjust that I shouldsuffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner which Iadmit, and which I admit has been fairly proved (for I admirethe truthfulness and candor of the greater portion of thewitnesses who have testified in this case), -- had I sointerfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent,the so-called great, or in behalf of any of their friends --either father, mother, sister, wife, or children, or any of thatclass -- and suffered and sacrificed what I have in thisinterference, it would have been all right; and every man inthis court would have deemed it an act worthy of rewardrather than punishment.

The court acknowledges, as I suppose, the validity of the lawof God. I see a book kissed here which I suppose to be theBible, or at least the New Testament. That teaches me that allthings whatsoever I would that men should do to me, I shoulddo even so to them. It teaches me further to "remember themthat are in bonds, as bound with them." I endeavored to actup to that instruction. I say, I am too young to understandthat God is any respecter of persons. I believe that to haveinterfered as I have done -- as I have always freely admitted Ihave done -- in behalf of His despied poor, was not wrong,but right. Now if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeitmy life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and minglemy blood further with the blood of my children and with theblood of millions in this slave country whose rights aredisregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments. -- Isubmit; so let it be done!

Let me say one word further.

I feel entirely satisfied with the treatment I have received on

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my trial. Considering all the circumstances, it has been moregenerous than I expected. I feel no consciousness of my guilt.I have stated from the first what was my intention, and whatwas not. I never had any design against the life of anyperson, nor any disposition to commit treason, or exciteslaves to rebel, or make any general insurrection. I neverencouraged any man to do so, but always discouraged anyidea of any kind.

Let me say also, a word in regard to the statements made bysome to those conncected with me. I hear it has been said bysome of them that I have induced them to join me. But thecontrary is true. I do not say this to injure them, but asregretting their weakness. There is not one of them but joinedme of his own accord, and the greater part of them at theirown expense. A number of them I never saw, and never had aword of conversation with, till the day they came to me; andthat was for the purpose I have stated.

Now I have done.

SOURCE: Based on materials of Annals of America. © 1968,1976Encyclopedia Brittanica, Inc. and William Loren Katz

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