John Brown, catalyst
Facial
Hair Friday: John Brown
Vincent Bartholomew, October 4, 2019, Pieces of History (National Archives)
Abolitionist
John Brown, who was previously clean shaven, grew a robust beard during
his preparations for the raid on Harpers Ferry as a way to disguise
himself to keep it secret. The two years before the raid is the only
time Brown had a beard.
After the raid and his arrest, Brown delivered his final address in a
courtroom in Charleston, Virginia (now West Virginia), on November 2,
1859. His words echo through time: “I believe, that to have interfered
as I have done in behalf of His despised poor,
is no wrong, but right. 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 say ‘let it be
done.’”
While antislavery advocates saw him as a pioneer, his willingness to die
for his cause evoked fear in white Southerners. Even though Brown’s use
of violence was seen as radical, abolitionists and antislavery
activists enshrined Brown as a hero, martyr, and
catalyst for the end of slavery.
continue
think
absolute power depends on absolute control over knowledge, which in turn necessitates absolute corruption
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