Martha Coakley Announces Black History Month Tribute: Edward William Brooke, III

According to wikipedia, “When the tradition of Black History Month had started in the US, many in mainstream academia had barely begun to explore black history. At that point, most representation of blacks in history books was only in reference to the low social position they held as slaves and their descendants, with infrequent exceptions such is that of George Washington Carver. In the US, Black History Month is also referred to as African-American History Month. W.E.B. DuBois’ 1935 work Black Reconstruction was an early work in history that pointed to black contributions”

Martha Coakley’s office announced, “The same year Martin Luther King gave his historic “I have a dream speech” and hundreds of thousands marched in Washington DC in the name of civil rights, Massachusetts swore in Edward William Brooke, III, as its 39th Attorney General. Brooke made history as the first African American elected to higher office in Massachusetts and would also make history in 1967 when he became the first African American to be elected by popular vote to the U.S. Senate. Brooke would remain the only person of African heritage sent to the Senate in the 20th century until Democrat Carol Moseley Braun in 1993.

On the role of his race in his life, Brooke told the Boston Globe in 2000: “I’ve never tried to run away from my race. I was born a black man. You know that in your bones as soon as you are able to understand this country. … My approach to life about race is I don’t see the difference between black people and white people. I wanted to go to Washington to bring people together who had never been together before. I wanted to break down the barriers between races.”

In the senate, Brooke was known as a tireless advocate against discrimination in housing and on behalf of affordable housing. As Attorney General, Brooke made his mark as a vigorous prosecutor against organized crime.

“The election of Edward Brooke first as Attorney General and then as senator is a part of our state’s history we can all be proud of. Senator Brooke’s leadership and his legacy as a tireless housing advocate who dedicated much of his public service to creating more housing opportunities for low income citizens still lives on today in federal programs that continue to help people. As we celebrate, honor and reflect on the heroes of the civil rights movement during Black History Month, Senator Brooke is a natural choice to honor and pay homage to,” said Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Brooke continued to work as a lawyer after he left the senate and has been honored many times for his public service. Brooke is 90-years-old and lives with his family in Florida.”

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