Alvin Brooks - Binding Us Together: A Civil Rights Activist Reflects on a Lifetime of Community and Public Service

Praise for Binding Us Together

This book gives us a close-up of pivotal events with insights into the man who turned those events towa rd justice.

Reverend Dr. Vern Barnet, founder of the Kansas City Interf aith Council

Al Brooks is a national treasure. This important book tells you why. In his long and amazingly generous life of public service, he has faced family crises as well as unjust racial and economic systems. Those systems were designed to keep Black men like Brooks in his place. But he publicly named those evils and worked to replace them with moral systems offering opportunity instead of social immobility. Read this book and weep. Then read it again and cheer.

Bill Tammeus, former Kansas City Star columnist an d author of Love, Loss and Endurance: A 9/11 Story of Resilience and Hope in an Age of Anxiety .

The streets of a city are daunting to most young children. Not to the six-year-old Alvin Brooks. With his shoeshine box under his arm, he shined shoes on the corners and in shops in the busiest, most notorious areas in Kansas City. That fearlessness nestled into the psyche of that little boy who would grow to serve the community, such as head of the AdHoc Group Against Crime and as mayor pro tem, but most importantly as the man that the community recognized as the bridge from them to city power.

Carmaletta M. Williams, PhD, executive director of Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City

My mom and I read Als book. Hes a really great guy who has been through a lot and he always perseveres and he made Kansas City a better place fo r everyone.

Lorenzo Guezura ga, age nine

Al Brookss strength has benefitted Kansas City for decades. His quiet determination, his soft smile, and his generosity of time and effort have given the community countless moments of justice and real progress. Im so proud to call him my friend. His story is i mportant.

Claire McCaskill, former US senator for Missouri

Al Brooks is one of the most dedicated public servants Ive ever met. I am impressed by the knowledge and dedication he has for social justice for all. I hope many will get to read his evaluation of a very impo rtant time.

Richard Dick Berkley, former mayor of Kansas Ci ty, Missouri

What a terrific person with a fascinating life story to tell! Als story is rich, e ye-opening, and inspirational... an amazing example of a life full of challenges, insights, and success. He opens our eyes to the harsh reality of racism and the never-ending need to confront the ills of our society, along with the tenacity to seek common ground with others different from ourselves. Great book, gr eat person!

Kay Barnes, former mayor of Kansas Ci ty, Missouri

Too often, those who actually make history are distant figures who, although important, are impersonal. Alvin Brooks is an historic figure personal to those of us honored to know him. Through his dedication and service to community, he has blessed so many with his unique blend of knowledge, grace, and activism. He has made his history our treasure and his friendship our honor.

Sly James, former mayor of Kansas Ci ty, Missouri

Alvin Brooks is a legend in our community, having worked for decades to build a better life for all in Kansas City. One cannot ask for a better mentor, legislator, teacher, or friend. I am honored to have heard his stories over the years, and I am delighted he memorializes them here for generations to learn the story of our country, our city, and o ur people.

Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas Ci ty, Missouri

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to three beautiful, loving women. First, my wife, Carol Rich, who at fourteen, when I was seventeen, became the love of my life, my soul mate, my lifeline, my very being, from our marriage August 23, 1950, until her transition July 21, 2013. Carol was the mother of our six children. She was the woman who made me who I am. Only the good side, of course!

Second, my adoptive mother, Estelle Brooks. Estelle adopted me when she was thirty-three and raised me until her transition March 20, 1950, when I was seventeen. My mother, Estelle Brooks, g ave me love.

Third, Thomascine Gilder, who was fourteen years old and unmarried when she gave birth to me. In those days, an unwed teen mother-to-be would be an embarrassment and sent away to live with other relatives. But in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Uncle Willie Whitson did not like having a pregnant teen in the house. So, Aunt Mozzella, Thomascines older sister, approached the neighborsCluster Brooks, then forty, and Estelle Brooks, then thirty-threeabout permitting my mother to stay with them until I was born. The Brookses had no children and were happy to accept my mother into their home. My mother, Thomascine Gilder, g ave me life.

Finally, I want to include our children in this dedication as well: our late son, Ronall, and five beautiful daughters, Estelle, Carrie, Rosalind, Diana, a nd Tameisha.

CONTENTS

DECENDENTS OF ALVIN AND CAROL BROOKS

ACK NOWLEDGMENTS

The Reverend Dr. Vern Barnet, John Kurtz, Sallie Guezuraga, John Dill, Bill Tammeus, John and Bonnie Martin, Gayle Krigel, Carrie Brooks-Brown, Patricia Kurtz, Allison McDonald, Raven Lloyd Stubbs, Dr. Carmaletta Williams, Angela Curry, Tamika Pouncil, Deputy Chief of Police Karl Oakman, Sergeant Joe Bediako, Marlon Buie, Christopher Bumpus, Minnette Bumpus, Patrick Neas, Bill Pryor, Bradley Poos, Jeff Simon, Wade Kerrigan, and Bu ck Wimberly.

I want to thank all those mentioned above, but there are two people who I must single out. During an event, I mentioned I was writing my memoir. Afterward, a person asked if I had an editor. My response was, No! He said, I would love to work with you pro bono. Your life seems so interesting, and it would be so worthwhile sharing it with others. Almost three years ago, Vern Barnet joined the journey by editing hundreds of pages. Our favorite place to meet and discuss my writing was the Westport Branch of the Kansas City Public Library. The second-floor meeting room overlooked Verns home. I would watch Vern cross the street with the flash drive with my manuscript around his neck, and I always admonished him to look both ways! Thank you, my dear f riend Vern.

The other person I must single out is Carrie Brooks Brown, daughter #2. Carrie joined the journey and came to stay with me from her home in Phoenix. I wanted a local publisher that not only wanted to publish the book but believed in my dream of creating a movement that increases awareness of diversity and human rights through everyday conversations. Carrie and I met with Andrews McMeel Universal CEO Andy Sareyan, president and publisher Kirsty Melville, and senior editor and director of p artnerships Jean Lucas. After an hour of exchanging ideas, we discovered the team at Andrews McMeel Publishing was right for the job. Carrie and Jean got to work, and have spent countless hours completing the book. Andy has reached out to collaborate with Carrie on the next phase of our journey, which is creating the actual movement. I cant thank Andrews McMeel enough and I look forward to seeing the positive actions that the next phase of our journey will create. Carrie, on my behalf, and on behalf of the seventy-one other descendants of your mom and me, youve made us proud! We love you dearly! May God continue to bless you with your extraordina ry talents.