J. Quinn Brisben facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. Quinn Brisben
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Brisben in 1992
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| Personal details | |
| Born | September 6, 1934 Enid, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | April 17, 2012 (aged 77) Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Socialist |
| Spouse | Andrea |
| Children | Michael, Becky |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois |
| Alma mater | University of Oklahoma University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| Occupation | Teacher |
John Quinn Brisben (born September 6, 1934 – died April 17, 2012) was an American teacher, writer, and activist from Chicago, Illinois. He was a member of the Socialist Party USA and ran for president or vice-president twice. In 1976, he ran for Vice President with Frank P. Zeidler. Later, in 1992, he ran for President of the United States.
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Early Life and Education
John Quinn Brisben was born on September 6, 1934, in Enid, Oklahoma. He grew up during the Dust Bowl era with his brother, Joseph. He went to school in Enid and graduated from Enid High School in 1952. While in Enid, he worked for a local newspaper and a radio station. He also studied at Phillips University.
Brisben met Andrea Rosaaen, an artist, while they were both studying at the University of Oklahoma. He graduated in 1955, and she graduated in 1954. They got married in 1955. After that, they lived in Madison, Wisconsin, where he studied for his advanced degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Teaching Career
J. Quinn Brisben taught history and social studies for 32 years. He taught at both high school and middle school levels. He taught briefly in Gurnee, Illinois, before moving to Chicago. In Chicago, he taught at Mason Upper Grade Center, Thomas Kelly High School, and Harlan High. He retired from teaching in 1990.
He was active in the American Federation of Teachers, which is a union for teachers. He often helped with strike committees. He also received several awards for his teaching. In 1964, he was named Teacher of the Year by Teachers for Integrated Schools.
Activism and Social Justice
J. Quinn Brisben was very active in many social movements throughout his life. He started by joining the Civil Rights Movement. In 1964, Brisben took part in the Mississippi Freedom Summer, where he was briefly put in jail. He also participated in activities in Alabama from 1965 to 1967.
When he was a student in the 1950s, Brisben was attacked for being the first white member of the local NAACP chapter. He was also involved in the anti-Vietnam War movement. He helped with a boycott for the United Farm Workers.
Later in his life, around the time he ran for president in 1992, Brisben was very involved in the disability rights movement. He worked with a group called American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT). He even spent three days in jail in Orlando, Florida, for taking part in an ADAPT protest. He was arrested 22 times in total for his political activism.
Socialist Party USA Campaigns
Brisben became a member of the Socialist Party in 1959. In 1975, he tried to run for mayor of Chicago. He couldn't get enough signatures to be on the ballot, so he ran as a write-in candidate.
Running for Vice President in 1976
In 1976, Brisben was the running mate for Frank P. Zeidler, who was the Socialist Party USA's presidential candidate. A newspaper reported that Brisben traveled across the country by train, speaking to small groups of socialists. People described him as having a "charming" and "simple humor" when he spoke.
The Zeidler/Brisben ticket was only on the ballot in a few states because it was difficult and expensive to get listed. They received 6,038 votes. This election was the first time the Socialist Party had run a presidential candidate since 1956.
Running for President in 1992
Brisben was chosen as the Socialist Party USA's presidential candidate in 1991. His first running mate, Bill Edwards, passed away during the campaign. Writer Barbara Garson was then chosen to replace him.
In March 1992, Brisben took part in a presidential debate with other candidates from smaller parties. This debate was shown on C-SPAN. The Brisben−Garson ticket appeared on the ballots in Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. They received 3,071 votes in total.
Published Works
J. Quinn Brisben wrote three collections of poetry and a novel called V for Victory Blues. He also contributed interviews to four books written by his friend, Studs Terkel. In 2003, he wrote a story called "A Wedding Celebration" for a book called Queer Crips. This story was about two gay activists he knew from ADAPT. He also wrote many articles for the Monthly Review and other journals.
Interviews with Studs Terkel
His friend, the writer Studs Terkel, interviewed Brisben in four of his books:
- The Great Divide: Second Thoughts on the American Dream (1988) ISBN: 0-394-57053-7
- Race: What Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the American Obsession (1992). ISBN: 978-1-56584-000-3
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Reflections on Death, Rebirth and Hunger for a Faith (2001) ISBN: 0-641-75937-1
- Hope Dies Last: Keeping the Faith in Difficult Times (2003) ISBN: 1-56584-837-3
Death and Family
J. Quinn Brisben passed away at his apartment in Chicago, Illinois, on April 17, 2012. He was married to Andrea for 56 years. They had a daughter named Becky and a son named Michael. Andrea started her own needlepoint pattern company in 1991, which she ran until her death on August 5, 2016.
Images for kids
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Brisben in 1992
