1854 — John Brown's Raid Allies: The Role of Osborne Perry Anderson

Born on May 24, 1830, Osborne Perry Anderson was the only African American survivor of John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859. A free Black man from Pennsylvania, Anderson’s role in this legendary anti-slavery operation is a powerful testament to Black resistance before the Civil War. Though often overshadowed by Brown, Anderson later published a firsthand account titled A Voice from Harper\’s Ferry, preserving the voices and sacrifice of the raid’s Black participants. His actions and writings provide vital primary sources about Black agency in the abolitionist movement. Celebrating Anderson’s birth on May 24 shines a light on the strategic role of African Americans in one of the most daring challenges to slavery in U.S. history. His life underscores the intellectual and militant contributions of Black abolitionists who fought courageously for freedom before emancipation was ever guaranteed.