Jay F. Nelson

John Brown was considered insane for proclaiming African-Americans and women equal to white men, proving that our society as a whole embraced some pretty crazy notions about gender and race. More than 150 years later, institutionalized racism and discrimination are alive and well in our culture. However, any kind of art sparking conversation over the merits of social justice and equality merits our consideration. Besides, this show is a blast. “Whereas, Slavery, throughout its entire existence in the United States is none other than a most barbarous, unprovoked, and unjustifiable war of one portion of its citizens upon another portion; the only conditions of which are perpetual imprisonment, and hopeless servitude or absolute extermination; in utter disregard and violation of those eternal and self-evident truths set forth in our Declaration of Independence:” -- John Brown