John Brown as Freedom Fighter or Madman? Questions for Abolition Democracy Today

John Brown's attack on Harper's Ferry is a famous event in our regional history, but the figure of John Brown continues to perplex us. Is he a righteous freedom fighter seeking to liberate enslaved people? Or is he a religious fanatic dispensing divine violence on a corrupt society? To what extent is this perplexity emblematic of the conflict of interpretations today concerning the vestiges of slavery in American society? This talk promotes reflection on how John Brown might still be with us, perhaps now more than ever.