Honoring Ed Brooke

The ornate Rotunda at the Capitol was packed with
well-wishers, political and media insiders and many Afro-Americans who were
there to celebrate the senator’s notable success in America’s political life.
Brooke was the first Afro-American state official when he was elected state
attorney general of Massachusetts in 1962; and the first African-American
popularly elected U.S. senator when he ran successfully for two terms in that
legislative body.

The room was adorned with statues and huge oil paintings of
scenes of American history — none contained any black faces. Not so the
audience, which included many personalities from black politics and public
affairs. All species of police and security guards surrounded the room — but
security was no problem as the vibes were completely friendly and admiring and
prideful. Drums and fifes led a military color guard, and the U.S. Army Chorus
sang. Phone cameras clicked throughout the proceedings.

I represented Sen. Brooke in preparing and publishing his
memoir, Bridging the Divide, so I am quite familiar with his life story. That
autobiography, and this day, typifies America at its best, honoring a good man
who broke racial barriers and independently represented his country as well as
his race and party and state.

Brooke chose to preach to his admiring audience and the
national media in attendance. “Politics need not be evil,” he pleaded, warning
political leaders not to put the important issues “on the back burner.” We
should be dealing with the hungry and the homeless and the uneducated young
people among us, he charged, and not “keep fighting wars.” Amen to that.

Brooke’s qualities of bipartisanship and high-mindedness are
rare nowadays, so the day and message are special, as is the man.

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