A Howard University professor has just dropped a bombshell by calling on White allies to channel the spirit of a notorious pre-Civil War vigilante.
Fox News reported that Stacey Patton, a journalism professor at the private Washington, D.C., institution, has ignited a firestorm with a blog post encouraging White supporters of progressive causes to emulate John Brown, a militant abolitionist whose violent actions still echo through history, while recent ties to his name in extremist circles add fuel to the controversy.
Let’s rewind to the 1850s, when John Brown emerged as a radical figure during the tumultuous "Bleeding Kansas" era.
In 1856, Brown led the brutal Pottawatomie massacre, where he and his crew dragged five Kansas settlers—most of whom sympathized with slavery—out of their homes and executed them in cold blood.
Fast forward to October 1859, and Brown escalated his crusade with a daring raid on a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, then part of Virginia, hoping to spark a slave uprising.
The plan backfired spectacularly—few slaves joined, a local militia clashed with his 21-man team, four townspeople (including a freed slave, Heyward Shepherd) died in the chaos, and ten of Brown’s men were killed before he was captured, tried for treason, and hanged.
Now, Professor Patton steps into this historical minefield with her blog titled "John Brown Didn’t Ask Enslaved People How to Be A Good White Ally," urging White liberals to stop seeking guidance on allyship and instead take drastic measures like Brown did.
She writes, "So when white allies ask, ‘What can I do?’ here’s the answer: Be like John Brown. Ask yourself, what am I willing to burn so somebody else can breathe?"
With all due respect to Patton’s passion, this rhetoric feels like a dangerous romanticization of violence—surely there’s a way to fight for justice without endorsing a blueprint of bloodshed?
Adding a chilling layer to this story, Brown’s legacy has resurfaced in discussions of left-wing extremism, most notably through the John Brown Gun Club, labeled a "far-left" group by the Counter Extremism Project.
On July 4, 2025, Benjamin Song, identified as a long-time Antifa activist and club member, was charged with three counts of attempted murder of federal agents and firearm offenses after an ambush-style attack on an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas.
A dozen others were also charged in connection with this plot, and Song’s ties to the club were previously highlighted in a 2023 lawsuit by the right-wing New Columbia Movement, painting a troubling picture of Brown’s name being weaponized today.
Howard University, caught in the crosshairs of this debate, issued a statement to Fox News Digital emphasizing, "Howard University condemns all forms of violence, particularly actions that may result in the loss of life," while defending free expression under the First Amendment.
The university was quick to clarify that individual opinions from faculty or students, like Patton’s, don’t reflect its official position—a diplomatic sidestep, though one wonders if stronger guidance might prevent such inflammatory calls from gaining traction.
Patton herself has declined to comment further, leaving her words to stand alone as either a bold challenge or a reckless provocation, depending on where you stand.
