May 25, 2014
Welcoming the NAACP Leader
By Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - On the 17th of May, I was overjoyed to learn that the Rev. Cornell William Brooks, Esq., was selected as the new President and CEO of the NAACP. Those of us who observe the
selection process routinely take for granted that the person selected to lead this preeminent civil rights organization is a person who embodies the highest standards of character, achievement and
leadership.
With the selection of Rev. Brooks, I can assure my readers that these criteria have been met. I‘ve been fortunate to know the new NAACP leader for many years. I would like to share what I know about him.
He was born in South Carolina. His father was a physician; his mother was a nurse. His parents came from humble beginnings and rather than the pampered existence lavished upon many of the children of
professional people of that time, Cornell was taught the value of hard work and preparation to meritoriously make his place in society. He was taught to appreciate the lifestyle his parents provided him. He
also learned that he was no better than other children in his community. Cornell likes to say he is a graduate of the Yale School of Law, but that he is also a graduate of Head Start!
Early in life, he developed the skill of goal-setting and a dogged determination to persevere to the achievement of his goals. These qualities were reflected in academic achievement and led him to pursue
his undergraduate degree at Jackson State University in Mississippi. There he achieved academic honors and, as a plus, met Janice Broome, who would become his wife.
After graduation from Jackson State, Cornell pursued his Master of Divinity degree at the Boston University School of Theology. He later received his law degree from the Yale School of Law. Thereafter, he
clerked for Judge Sam Ervin, III. Later, he served at the Dept. of Justice in the Civil Rights Division and successfully prosecuted several high-profile housing cases. From there, he moved to the Federal Communication Commission. He ran for Congress in 1998. Most recently, he’s served as President and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice where he worked with the Legislature to promote the
"Ban the Box" law which, when enacted, will remove the stigma of arrest and incarceration from the job application process in NJ.
That’s the history of the Rev. Brooks that the press and most inquiring minds will learn. I also know him as a dedicated husband and father. Janice, his wife, mirrors Cornell's dedication to social equity and justice, and has been a member of the NCBW for nearly 20 years. She serves on our National Board. Their sons reflect their disciplined love of learning and personal excellence, and have been an integral part of our youth programs.
Rev. Brooks was an early supporter of our College for Kids Program and served as a volunteer facilitator of "Law Day" where he introduced basic principles of law and civic responsibility to our students. He
gained notoriety for his creative "Law Day" mock trials. I know at least one former College for Kids student who’s enrolled in law school and vividly remembers the influence of Rev. Brooks. He has also pastored a church. In his spare time he wrote a weekly newspaper column that often highlighted NCBW initiatives and accomplishments.
Many fear change, especially in organizations as venerable as the NAACP. In both public and personal ways, Rev. Brooks has demonstrated qualities of leadership that make his selection as NAACP President and
CEO an inspired choice. With his servant's heart, he’s right for our time and future. As a Life Member of the NAACP, I invite you to join me in welcoming our new leader.
(Dr. E. Faye Williams is Chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. www.nationalcongressbw.org. 202/678-6788.)