A journalism professor at Howard University is facing backlash after suggesting that White political allies of leftist causes should emulate John Brown, the 19th-century abolitionist who led violent uprisings before the Civil War and was executed for treason.
Dr. Stacey Patton, who teaches journalism at the Washington, D.C. university, published a blog post titled “John Brown Didn’t Ask Enslaved People How to Be a Good White Ally.” In it, she criticized White liberals for constantly asking how to be better allies to minorities, urging them instead to act decisively against racism — as Brown once did.
“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?” Patton wrote.
🔥 Who Was John Brown?
John Brown was a militant abolitionist who, in 1856, led the Pottawatomie Massacre in Kansas, killing five pro-slavery settlers. Three years later, he led a failed raid on a federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, hoping to spark a slave uprising. The attack left several dead — including free Black townspeople — and Brown was captured, tried for treason, and hanged.
🗣️ Patton’s Message
In her blog, Patton said she is tired of having to “teach” White people how to be allies, describing such efforts as “exhausting.”
“They want to be seen trying,” she wrote, “but the trying itself becomes another demand on the people already harmed.”
She continued:
“You don’t ask the people choking on smoke to explain how to put out the blaze. You go get the hose.”
While Patton emphasized that White allies don’t have to “die like John Brown,” she added, “somebody always does.”
⚖️ University Response
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Howard University said it condemns all forms of violence but supports the principles of free speech:
“The University remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the First Amendment. However, the views expressed by individual faculty, staff, or students are solely their own and should not be construed as reflecting the official stance of Howard University.”
Patton declined to comment further.
🔫 Wider Context
Brown’s name has resurfaced in modern political discourse amid concerns about left-wing extremism. The John Brown Gun Club, named after him, was recently linked to a violent incident involving Benjamin Song, an alleged Antifa member charged with attempted murder of federal agents after a July 2025 attack on an ICE facility in Texas.
The Counter Extremism Project has labeled the group as “far-left.”
🧭 The Debate
Patton’s remarks have reignited a broader conversation about the limits of activism and academic expression, with critics accusing her of glorifying political violence, while supporters argue she was speaking metaphorically about moral courage and sacrifice in the fight against racism.
