Professor Stacey Patton of Howard University has called on White allies of the left to adopt the radical methods of John Brown, an abolitionist who was executed for his violent opposition to slavery. Patton’s blog post, titled ‘John Brown Didn’t Ask Enslaved People How to Be A Good White Ally,’ critiques the expectation for White individuals to seek validation for their allyship from Black communities. Instead, she encourages them to embrace Brown’s uncompromising approach, which involved lethal force against slaveholders.
Patton, who is a professor at the D.C.-based private university, argues that the pursuit of allyship should not be driven by the need for approval but by a commitment to immediate action. Her post has reignited discussions about the use of historical figures, particularly those associated with violence, to justify contemporary political movements. Some critics have condemned the comparison to Brown, who was hanged for his role in the Harpers Ferry raid, a pivotal event in the pre-Civil War era.
The professor’s rhetoric has also intersected with broader debates about left-wing extremism. Groups like the John Brown Gun Club, which has been linked to violent acts of political protest, have drawn attention to the potential for such historical figures to be invoked in modern activism. While Howard University has expressed its opposition to violence through a statement, it has not formally endorsed Patton’s stance, leaving the professor’s views to be interpreted independently.
Patton’s piece highlights tensions within academic and political discourse regarding activism and the role of historical figures in shaping modern movements. Her call for personal sacrifice and action reflects a broader debate about how to address racial injustice, often framed through the lens of moral courage and radical change.