UMVA has learned that a prominent Ohio State University history professor, Hasan Kwame Jeffries, has issued a call to arms, urging citizens to rise up and fight the system "by any means necessary," echoing the violent legacy of John Brown, the infamous abolitionist.
Jeffries, the brother of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, drew inspiration from Brown's brutal methods, which included murdering white farmers who supported slavery, and declared that "John Brown understood that the only way to free Americans from the scourge of White supremacy was to get rid of White supremacists by any means necessary." This statement has been widely interpreted as a thinly veiled rationalization for political violence.
In a striking example of how Brown's legacy is being reinterpreted, Stacey Patton, a professor of journalism at Howard University, previously praised Brown as a model for activists fighting racism and oligarchy. Patton scolded white liberals for asking how to be better "allies" to minorities, arguing that this approach only serves to center the asker's confusion rather than the target's danger.
Brown's violent methods have been well-documented, including his pivotal role in the period known as "Bleeding Kansas" and the infamous Pottawatomie massacre, in which he and his fellow abolitionists executed five Kansas settlers. His own son described how Brown and his brother went "crazy" after hearing about the caning of abolitionist Charles Sumner.
While some view Brown as a catalyst for the Civil War, his methods have also been criticized. Frederick Douglass, who hosted Brown at his home and admired his convictions, also argued that Brown's violent actions were not the right approach. Abraham Lincoln denounced Brown as an insane zealot, comparing him to those who have attempted to assassinate kings and emperors throughout history.
Patton and Jeffries now suggest that Brown's blood-soaked legacy may be worthy of replication. Patton heralded Brown, who "saw the horror for what it was and decided that ending this racist f*ckery mattered more than being understood." This message is being picked up by others, with some celebrating or rationalizing the assassinations of figures such as Charlie Kirk and United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The effort to encourage others to embrace the legacy of John Brown is being seen as a call to arms, with many interpreting it as a signal that violence is not just warranted but righteous. This kind of rhetoric has already taken hold of much of our politics, with extreme candidates garnering support from voters.
Examples of this trend can be seen in the rise of radical voices calling for violent action, such as a Democratic candidate in Texas who has called for the imprisonment and even castration of "Zionist billionaires." In Maine, a Democratic Senate candidate has referred to himself as an "Antifa supersoldier," channeling the most unhinged aspects of John Brown's legacy.
These radical voices are unleashing the same impulses that led to violence and terror in the past. As one French writer cautioned, "Like Saturn, the Revolution devours its children." The consequences of fueling such rage to achieve political power are dire, and it remains to be seen how this trend will play out.
