Civil Rights

The City of Madison's Department of Civil Rights, along with the members of the Affirmative Action Commission, the Commission on People with Disabilities and the Equal Opportunities Commission, were saddened to learn of the death of Anthony L. Brown, former Executive Director of the City of Madison's Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) from 1994-2004.
Anthony was a champion for civil rights. During his time with the Equal Opportunities Commission he did much to advance civil rights in our community. He helped enhance protections in housing for lower income members of our community and for those with arrest and conviction records. He helped the Commission investigate racial profiling in Madison traffic stops and in alcohol license enforcement which culminated in Mayor Susan Bauman's creation of the Task Force on Race Relations that lead to the development of a wide range of City-sponsored programs to improve race relations in our community, many of which Anthony played a significant role in implementing.
He created the EOC's Summer Celebration of Diversity Picnic that has been held annually since 1996; created the Rev. James C. Wright Human Rights Award in honor of the first director of the EOC; he was a driving force behind the Study Circles Program in Madison.
He was also active in many community organizations including 100 Black Men of Madison, Madison Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, the Madison Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, the Madison Branch of the NAACP, the Wisconsin Fair Housing Network and the Superintendent's Human Relations Advisory Council for the Madison Metropolitan School District.
He was the founder of the Pride Classic that for several years brought nationally known athletes to Madison as a fund raiser for charities. Dr. Brown loved to cook and entertain and was well known for his award winning ribs. He was a charter member of he Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Men Who Cook and participated in the event from 1994 to 2001. He was the first place winner in 1994, 1995 and 1996 for his mouth watering ribs.
Harper Donahue, IV, a member of the Department of Civil Rights and a Fraternity Brother of Dr. Brown, had this to say about his passing: "During this time of sorrow and sadness, when I think of Dr. Anthony L. Brown, I can only smile. I think of his well known ear-to-ear grin and I cannot help but to smile with him. He was a great man that set aggressive goals in life and worked diligently to accomplish them all. Dr. Brown lived his life to the fullest and because of this, I cannot feel sorrow right now-only joy as my friend, and Brother, returns home."
Lucía Nuñez, Director of the Department of Civil Rights, said of Brown, "His spirit and love of life were evident in everything he did for this community. Madison is a better place to live due to his advocacy for civil and human rights. We will miss him greatly."
Condolences are extended to Anthony's family, many friends and associates.

March 17, 2010