"Why Was Brown Silent on the Conditions of Free Labor in the 19th Century?": A John Brown Scholar Responds

In response to an article on this blog, "Why Was Brown Silent on the Conditions of Free Labor in the 19th Century?" (Oct. 31, 2022), another reader, Christian Chiakulus, has responded to Len Bussanich, who originally posed the question.  Initially, Len wrote:

John Brown lived and worked in Springfield, MA. He must have known or heard about the conditions in the factories. I guess my question now is, why is there no examination of Brown's actions in the context of the industrializing North? Why would he-or the abolitionists-remain silent to the same oppressive conditions wracking the labor force in the North and not question, challenge or even confront the same capital dynamics that shaped the South as well as the North[?]

Last month, I noted that Christian, who is doing graduate work on John Brown, responded to Len quite insightfully, and rather than append his response to the original post, I thought it was worth presenting here.  His response to Len is substantial and is reproduced completely as follows:

John Brown and the Working Man (AI art) 

Thanks for these comments, this is a great discussion to have. Len, for what it's worth, Brown frequently did lament the state of "the poor" generally in America, not only that of slaves. In an 1855 letter from Ohio (so not a slave state), he wrote "I believe there is ten times the suffering amongst the poor in this State that ever existed before... Should God send famine, pestilence, and war upon this guilty hypocritical nation to destroy it, we need not be surprised."* Mr. DeCaro's point about Brown's agrarianism is the most pertinent, in my opinion; Brown seems to have been almost Jeffersonian in his lionization of agrarianism as the best way of life. He also didn't live to see the industrial revolution really take hold in the US, so while of course he would've been aware of factory conditions in New England, they had not yet reached the appalling heights of exploitation and prevalence that they would a few decades after his death. To add to LD's point about the racism among the white working class in the antebellum era, DuBois in Black Reconstruction outlines the extent to which the nascent socialist movement in the US capitulated to anti-black attitudes generally and even to the Slave Power itself to a degree. Socialist leaders here were well to the right of Marx and Engels on the issue.

 

While I also would love it if John Brown had come out strongly and openly against capitalism, I think he still did enough to earn the title of a hero to the working-class. His broad concern for the poor, advocacy for small wool growers, and Biblical belief in holding all property in common (see for example the Provisional Constitution) are solid evidence that, at least towards the end of the life, he was moving in that direction. [CK]

Christian's succinct and substantial response is appreciated.--LD

---------

    *Christian quotes from John Brown to Henry & Ruth Brown Thompson, Jan. 23, 1855, in Chicago History Museum Collection.

John Brown Invited to "The Cookout" by Journalist Touré

So, the journalist Touré writes in The Grio (Apr. 19) that John Brown is one of thirteen "white folks" who get invited to "The Cookout." Why he chose thirteen is unclear, except perhaps he could not get his list narrowed down to the conventional ten names.  At any rate, Touré even places the Old Man as No. 1 on the invitation list.  That's the upside.

The downside is that John Brown is on a list with coaches, musicians, Prince Harry, and Bill Clinton.  Really, Touré, is that the best you could do?

So, how would I parse this story?

Well, on one hand, it's kind of sad that a short list of so-called whites that might be invited to the quintessential African American "Cookout" is more cultural and contemporary than historically substantive. To his credit, I suppose Touré is only greasing the palm that feeds him because he knows that his readership is more geared to the contemporary, and so he's playing that game. But imagine if, in a couple hundred years, someone were to read this list and take it as a real social and political gauge of what it meant to be a good "ally" in the struggle for justice--well, it leaves a lot to be desired.

On the other hand, I'm impressed that even in a generation that tends to forget the past and revel in celebrity culture, John Brown still manages to get noticed and get his invitation in the mail.  I must be honest: it's even a bit surprising to me because the cues as of late have been quite otherwise.  The black history calendar by Ebony Magazine, which has notations for every day of the year, completely overlooked the Old Man, acknowledging neither his birthday (May 9) or his date of execution (Dec. 2)--two dates that African Americans in previous generations would never have overlooked.  I just figured that's the process of time and change and that Brown is now a dusty figure in the attic of black memory.  But I guess I was being pessimistic. 

So, Captain Brown (as black people in the 19th century referred to him), have a great time at "The Cookout."  You're still one in a million.