“Can I tell you something? I got to tell you one thing If you expect the freedom that you say is yours, prove that you deserve it. Help us to preserve it, or being free will just be words and nothing more.” Since my days teaching Kansas City history, I’ve had a fascination with John Brown. Noble goals, sometimes kind of a terrorist in getting them accomplished. I skipped the John Brown half marathon last year because I’m not ready for a half in February. When they added a 10K this year, I was in. The costume is an Abe Lincoln (slash Frederick Douglass) with a Mark Twain beard. I knew immediately the soundtrack would be by the prog-rock genius of Kansas. I didn’t realize until a few weeks ago that the self-titled debut album turns 50 this year. The course itself is, well, ????????. Literally, we were dodging piles every few yards because the Flint Hills Trail is frequented by horseback riders as well as bikers and trail runners.l Bicycles almost outnumbered humans in town, and John Brown would NOT be happy to see the “Heritage Not Hate” flag so close to his museum. Here we are 170ish years later and work still to do.
Playlist (Spotify)
Playlist (Apple Music)
