Philip L. Brown, then 97, a former vice principal at Wiley H. Bates High and school historian, addressed the crowd at the grand opening of the Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center. (Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis / September 8, 2006) |
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Philip L. Brown Sr., an educator and civil rights pioneer whose efforts in Anne Arundel County helped lay the groundwork for the desegregation of the nation's public schools, died Friday at his home in Annapolis, according to family members. He was 100.
Mr. Brown, who worked as a teacher and administrator in the county schools for more than 40 years, was part of a lawsuit pushing for equal pay for African-American teachers in Anne Arundel. Thurgood Marshall, then an attorney for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, represented the black teachers and won the case in federal court in Baltimore in 1940. It was one of several cases that became part of the legal groundwork for Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court case that integrated America's public schools.
"He was a role model for many African-Americans," said Jacqueline Allsup, president of the county NAACP. "He stood for what was right, for justice. It is because of people like Mr. Brown, with that self- determination, wanting equality for all people, that we have made some of the strides that we have made."
In a statement, Gov. Martin O'Malley said he was saddened by Mr. Brown's death.
Mr. Brown was born in Annapolis in 1909. He graduated from high school in 1926 and attended what was then Bowie Normal School, now Bowie State University, earning an elementary teacher's certificate in 1928.
He began teaching that same year, at age 19, in a two-room school in Glen Burnie.
Mr. Brown married the former Rachel Hall, also a teacher, in 1932. The couple formed the Colored Teachers Association in 1938, which led the push for equal pay for black teachers.
In a statement, Arundel schools Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell said, "He remains an inspiration to us all, and his impact on this county will be felt for generations to come."
Eugene Peterson, a member of the county school board, called Mr. Brown a "trailblazer."
"Without people like Philip Brown, where would black educators be?" Peterson said. "These guys stuck their necks out at a time when it wasn't easy."
Mr. Brown and his wife earned bachelor's degrees from what is now Morgan State University soon after marrying, and in 1955, each received a master's degree in higher education at New York University.
"He helped many, many people along the way," said his youngest son, Errol E. Brown Sr. of Ellicott City. "He led by example. He was always known as a soft-spoken man, but he got many results."
During his teaching career, Mr. Brown taught at several elementary schools, and he retired in 1970 as vice principal of Wiley H. Bates High School. After retirement, Mr. Brown wrote four books, touching on education and black life in Anne Arundel.
"He was a remarkable man who provided a lot of lessons, particularly for young people, in terms of how to combat racism," said Carl O. Snowden, director of the civil rights office for the state attorney general. "He did it with great dignity and grace."
In addition to his younger son and wife, Mr. Brown is survived by another son, Philip L. Brown Jr. of Columbia; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
A viewing is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday at Mt. Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2204 Bay Ridge Ave., Annapolis. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Mr. Brown will be buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Annapolis.
Mr. Brown, who worked as a teacher and administrator in the county schools for more than 40 years, was part of a lawsuit pushing for equal pay for African-American teachers in Anne Arundel. Thurgood Marshall, then an attorney for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, represented the black teachers and won the case in federal court in Baltimore in 1940. It was one of several cases that became part of the legal groundwork for Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court case that integrated America's public schools.
"He was a role model for many African-Americans," said Jacqueline Allsup, president of the county NAACP. "He stood for what was right, for justice. It is because of people like Mr. Brown, with that self- determination, wanting equality for all people, that we have made some of the strides that we have made."
In a statement, Gov. Martin O'Malley said he was saddened by Mr. Brown's death.
Mr. Brown was born in Annapolis in 1909. He graduated from high school in 1926 and attended what was then Bowie Normal School, now Bowie State University, earning an elementary teacher's certificate in 1928.
He began teaching that same year, at age 19, in a two-room school in Glen Burnie.
Mr. Brown married the former Rachel Hall, also a teacher, in 1932. The couple formed the Colored Teachers Association in 1938, which led the push for equal pay for black teachers.
In a statement, Arundel schools Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell said, "He remains an inspiration to us all, and his impact on this county will be felt for generations to come."
Eugene Peterson, a member of the county school board, called Mr. Brown a "trailblazer."
"Without people like Philip Brown, where would black educators be?" Peterson said. "These guys stuck their necks out at a time when it wasn't easy."
Mr. Brown and his wife earned bachelor's degrees from what is now Morgan State University soon after marrying, and in 1955, each received a master's degree in higher education at New York University.
"He helped many, many people along the way," said his youngest son, Errol E. Brown Sr. of Ellicott City. "He led by example. He was always known as a soft-spoken man, but he got many results."
During his teaching career, Mr. Brown taught at several elementary schools, and he retired in 1970 as vice principal of Wiley H. Bates High School. After retirement, Mr. Brown wrote four books, touching on education and black life in Anne Arundel.
"He was a remarkable man who provided a lot of lessons, particularly for young people, in terms of how to combat racism," said Carl O. Snowden, director of the civil rights office for the state attorney general. "He did it with great dignity and grace."
In addition to his younger son and wife, Mr. Brown is survived by another son, Philip L. Brown Jr. of Columbia; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
A viewing is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday at Mt. Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2204 Bay Ridge Ave., Annapolis. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Mr. Brown will be buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Annapolis.
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