The John Brown Project is a 501(c)(3) media company celebrating John Brown’s passion for equality
Introducing: John Brown Week!
A week of local events, concerts, and scholarly discussions to celebrate the Torrington-born abolitionist, his family's local roots, and the universal fight for human rights.
Cinco de Mayo Liberation Party
Tue, May 5, 6:00 p.m. at El Tenate (131 Water Street, 2nd floor)
While commonly viewed as a day of Mexican heritage, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla. During this battle, a heavily outnumbered Mexican army defeated invading French forces; a victory for liberty over imperialism: the same struggle that Brown pushed against.
The evening will feature a Taco Tuesday menu, mocktails (or BYOB), background music, and guest speakers exploring these shared threads of historical resistance. (Note: the event space is accessible by stairs only).
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John Brown Birthday Celebration Concert with Reggie Harris
Sat, May 9, 3:00 p.m. at Five Points Center for the Visual Arts (855 University Drive), sponsored by Torrington Historical Society and Thomaston Savings Bank
An internationally acclaimed musician and educator, Harris will blend acoustic folk, African American spirituals, and gospel. A W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy Award recipient, Mr. Harris uses music to connect audiences with the stories of the Underground Railroad and the ongoing pursuit of justice.
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Brown Family Mother’s Day Brunch
Sun, May 10, at Brinx Cafe and Cocktails.
This closing event shifts the focus from the battlefield to the homefront, honoring the immense sacrifices of parenting through Mary Brown and John’s parents, Owen and Ruth Mills.
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Browniac Digest Recent Updates:
His Truth is Marching On Backstory and Film
BACKSTORY — In early 2020, Culture 4 A Cause, a NWCT Nonprofit, spearheaded an initiative to produce a song, music video, and documentary film for “John Brown’s Body,” the song that became “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” as a way to promote equality in Torrington, CT.
Torrington is the birthplace of John Brown, an important abolitionist who inspired the song, which was popular among Union soldiers. Brown was a relentless antagonist to the institution of slavery, and his views were learned in Torrington.
Dan explains the project: what, how, and why.
An Award-Winning Documentary Film Project
The John Brown Project won a 2024 Award of Excellence in the Leadership in History Awards from the American Association of State and Local History. We were eligible because the previous year, the Connecticut League of History Organizations recognized us with a 2023 Award of Merit for the short film His Truth Is Marching On, and the supporting explainer videos.
We are deeply honored to be recognized on the state and national level by professional historians for our work.
Quote from the CT Judges
“The committee loved the project’s irreverent and fun approach to these important historical topics and the way the videos used the history of music to explore social movements in American history that went far beyond Torrington and the life of John Brown ... a wonderful way to reexamine a historical figure, telling an oft-told story in a fresh, fun, and eminently accessible way.
They also admired the project’s focus on African-American resistance and agency in the storytelling—and the clear impact the project was having in the community.”