J. Quinn Brisben

John Quinn Brisben (September 6, 1934 – April 17, 2012) was an American teacher and political activist from Chicago, Illinois. Brisben was twice on the Socialist Party USA's presidential ticket. He was candidate for President of the United States in the 1992 U.S. presidential election.^[1] His running mate was initially Bill Edwards, but Edwards died during the campaign and was replaced by Barbara Garson. Brisben had previously been the Socialist Party USA's candidate for United States Vice President in 1976.

Background

Brisben grew up in Enid, Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl era. He met his wife-to-be, Andrea at the University of Oklahoma (and was physically attacked there for being a member of the NAACP). They married and lived for some time in Madison, Wisconsin while he studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught briefly in Gurnee, Illinois before coming to Chicago, where he taught at Mason Upper Grade Center, Thomas Kelly High School and Harlan High.

Teaching career

Brisben worked as a high school history and social studies teacher in Chicago’s inner city for 30 years until his retirement in 1990. He served several terms as a representative in the American Federation of Teachers, Local 1, and frequently served on strike committees. He received several teaching awards, including being named Teacher of the Year by Teachers for Integrated Schools in 1964.

Activism

Active in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, Brisben took part in the Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964—where he was briefly jailed—and in several Southern Christian Leadership Conference-sponsored activities in Alabama from 1965 to 1967. He was active in the anti-Vietnam War movement and served as a boycott captain for the United Farm Workers among other social movements. In July 1990, he and Andrea helped smuggle 3,000 condoms donated by ACT-UP Chicago to the Moscow Lesbian and Gay Union. Around the time of his run for president, Brisben had been primarily involved in the disability rights movement, with American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT). He began his 1992 run for president by serving three days in an Orlando jail for taking part in an ADAPT demonstration. He contributed to the 2003 anthology Queer Crips: Disabled Gay Men and Their Stories.

1992 presidential campaign

Brisben and his running mate Bill Edwards were nominated at the 1991 Socialist Party USA convention. However, Edwards died during the campaign and writer Barbara Garson of New York was selected to replace him on the ballot. In March 1992, Brisben participated in a presidential debate with other small party and independent presidential candidates which was aired on CSPAN.^[2] Brisben/Garson appeared on the ballot in four states (Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, District of Columbia) and received 3,071 votes.^[3]

Writing

The writer Studs Terkel, a friend, interviewed Brisben for four of his books, including Race and Will the Circle Be Unbroken?. Brisben published poetry collections, and a novel, V for Victory Blues.

Death

Brisben died at their apartment on April 17, 2012, at which time he and Andrea had been married 56 years, and had a daughter, Becky and a son, Michael.

References

1. "Harlan High teacher ran for president as a Socialist". Suntimes.com. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
2. "Independent Presidential Candidates Debate". C-SPAN. March 1, 1992. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
3. Ross, Jack (2015-04-15). The Socialist Party of America: A Complete History. U of Nebraska Press. pp. 657–. ISBN 9781612344911. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

• Socialist Party USA - 2001 Socialist National Convention | J. Quinn Brisben biography
• Obituary for J. Quinn Brisben, 1934-2012 Solidarity-us.org

External links

• His poetry, prose, lectures and other writings can be found at QuinnBrisben.com.