May 9 is the 210th anniversary of the birth of radical abolitionist John Brown. Brown was executed in 1859 for his raid on Harper's Ferry, an attempt by Brown to seize weapons for a planned armed insurrection of slaves. Brown is a genuine great American hero who laid his life on the line in the struggle against slavery, the great moral compromise of America's founding.
In a way, it's a shame that this anniversary wasn't a month earlier in 1859, then it could have been a part of the discussion for Confederate History Month here in Virginia. I am sure that those promoting that proclamation would have been horrified. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder about this anniversary.