Worcester Historical Museum and the College of the Holy Cross present “Fraternity: A Discussion with Author Diane Brady and Father John Brooks,” on Thursday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Fletcher Auditorium at the Museum. The talk is free with Museum admission and open to the public.
On April 4, 1968, the death of Martin Luther King Jr. shocked the nation. A few days later, the Boston-born priest Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., then a professor of theology at Holy Cross who shared Dr. King’s dream of an integrated society, drove up and down the East Coast searching for African-American high school recruits, young men he felt had the potential to succeed if given an opportunity.
Among the 20 students he had a hand in recruiting that year were Clarence Thomas, the future Supreme Court justice; Edward P. Jones, who would go on to win a Pulitzer Prize for literature; and Theodore Wells, who would become one of the nation’s most successful defense attorneys.
Now, the stories of their time at Holy Cross are being told in the book “Fraternity” (Spiegel & Grau, Jan. 3, 2012), by Bloomberg BusinessWeek’s Diane Brady, who follows the five men through their college years, reporting on how their time at Holy Cross and their relationships with Fr. Brooks helped shape who they are today.
Join Worcester Historical Museum as Brady and Fr. Brooks talk about his decision to bring more diversity to Holy Cross, and how it changed the College and the lives of all its students.
Since “Fraternity” hit shelves earlier this year, the book has been earning national praise: BookPage named Fr. Brooks an “unsung hero of the civil rights movement” and The Boston Globe called it “a compelling story about a fractious moment in American history and the extraordinary efforts of one institution— one man, really—to make amends.”
After the discussion, Brady and Fr. Brooks will be available to sign copies of the book.
“Worcester Historical Museum is excited about this collaboration with Holy Cross. Fr. Brooks’ courageous effort to campaign for equality on campus was a crucial step in Worcester's history,” says William D. Wallace, executive director of the Museum. “A lively discussion about racial integration at Holy Cross is an important start to our upcoming 2013 exhibition, ‘Worcester in the 1960s.’”
Founded in 1875, Worcester Historical Museum (WHM) is the only organization solely dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Worcester’s unique and diverse history from all time periods and subject areas. The holdings of WHM encompass thousands of documents and artifacts vital to the study of Worcester history. Worcester’s history is interpreted through a calendar of exhibitions, educational programming, tours, and publications. WHM features both permanent installations and changing exhibits.
NOTE: Regrettably, Father Brooks will be unable to participate in the talk with Diane Brady. The lecture will continue as scheduled, with Brady discussing the book and her decision to document this compelling tale followed by a question and answer session.
Related Information
- Telegram & Gazette, June 3: "Father John Brooks recalls tumultuous days of integration at Holy Cross"
- Learn more about “Fraternity"
- Justice Clarence Thomas ’71 Receives Honorary Degree from Holy Cross
