Light vs. Lies: The Real History of the Harper's Ferry Raid (with a Jan. 6th epilogue!)

01/16/22 • 51 min

In this episode, Lou revisits the Harper's Ferry raid of October 16, 1859, presents some preliminary thoughts on the contemporary perspective and then addresses a number of key points, along with a "January 6th" epilogue. The key points addressed in this extended episode are:
1. What basically characterized John Brown’s earlier Virginia plan and how it was changed in the 1850s, and why it was changed?

2. Why did John Brown choose to capture the federal armory and what did he intend when he did so?

3. To what degree did John Brown’s movement in Harper’s Ferry attract local enslaved people?

4. Was the raid on Harper’s Ferry an ill-fated venture that had no real chance of success?

5. In what ways has our understanding of the HF raid been misshapen, and how has it come down to us?
John Brown's truth is ours too. He did his part. Let's do our part too and save our nation from rightwing rebellion, which is the spirit of the slaveholders.
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2. Why did John Brown choose to capture the federal armory and what did he intend when he did so?

3. To what degree did John Brown’s movement in Harper’s Ferry attract local enslaved people?

4. Was the raid on Harper’s Ferry an ill-fated venture that had no real chance of success?

Previous Episode

My John Brown Holiday Notes

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In this episode Lou tries to answer the question, "Did John Brown celebrate Christmas?" This leads us to consider both Thanksgiving and Christmas in the antebellum era, what they represented to the North and South, respectively, and their social significance. Then, taking a quick tour of the archives, Lou pulls some different vignettes relating John Brown to Christmas.
Merry Christmas to those who observe the day, and happy holidays and happy new year to all!
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Next Episode

Interrogating History: The Mayflower, “America,” and John Brown

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In this episode, Lou reflects upon the critical thesis of the late Gabriel Moran (1935-2021), who indefatigably pointed out the distinction between "America" as a dream (and as a vast continental land mass) and The United States of America as a nation. Following Gabriel's lead, Lou reflects upon the linguistic and political challenges of confusing the two, something that is done as much by rightwingers as by critics of racism, including such eminent voices as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. What is the significance of confusing the USA with "America"? Lou explores this theme, observing that, interestingly, John Brown typically did not make this error. He was quite aware that the problem with slavery and racism against which he struggled was a problem of The United States of America.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Gabriel Moran, teacher and friend.--LD
If you're interested in exploring Gabriel's thinking about "America," see his book, America in the United States and the United States in America: A Philosophical Essay (iUniverse, 2018).
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