John Brown (aka. Osawatomie Brown, Old Man Brown, Captain Brown, Old Brown of Kansas,
Nelson Hawkins, Shubel Morgan, Isaac Smith...)
...is one of the most controversial Americans of all time.
He believed God chose him to overthrow black slavery in America leading him to
organize attacks and leading antislavery troops to keep Kansas a free state.
Brown's faulty decision making, fanatical methods, and ego has made him
both, a (anti)terrorist and a hero.
His violent actions may have triggered the Civil War,
but he ultimately achieved his aim of abolishing slavery.
Brown was ultimately executed for treason
in the winter of 1859.
"Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I submit: so let it be done!"
-John Brown's last speech, November 2, 1859
"I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done."
-Written by John Brown on the day of his death
Gouache paintings by Jacob Lawrence on
The series begins with Brown’s decision to become an activist,
depicts his struggle as an organizer and strategist,
and ends with his capture, conviction,
and execution for treason
in the winter of 1859.
"These men are all talk. What we need is action - action!"
Sunday, October 16, 1859, John Brown
with a company of 21 men, white and black,
marched on Harpers Ferry, Virginia.
a legend and a half
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