John Brown, a white abolitionist who would become a fierce ally to Black freedom fighters, was born on May 3, 1808, in Connecticut. Though controversial, Brown’s deep conviction that slavery must be eradicated by any means—even violence—made him a singular figure in American history. His 1859 raid on Harper’s Ferry aimed to ignite a slave rebellion. Though the raid failed and Brown was executed, his actions helped heighten tensions leading to the Civil War. Many Black leaders, including Frederick Douglass and later W.E.B. Du Bois, recognized Brown as a martyr for the cause of Black liberation.
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