EULOGY 12/21/00

(Click either photo below to enlarge)

(Derwin with the Dekalb Police Dept.)

(Derwin Brown laid to rest)

When my brother won the election for sheriff of Dekalb County, I unfortunately could not be here with him to personally share in his joy and his victory. Nevertheless, I felt great pride and respect for my brother for this great accomplishment. As you can imagine, I have experienced this feeling many times over throughout my life in regards to my brother.

I was also proud of the people of Dekalb County for having the courage, intelligence and insight to vote for truth, integrity, justice and not the American way. For the American way has historically been one of greed, oppression, corruption and violations of basic human and civil rights. I know this does not sound pretty, however, it is the truth. It is the Naked Truth. If it was not, we would not be here today.

I truly believe that the people that my brother pledged to serve and protect since he first arrived here 23 years ago were given an opportunity to participate in a democratic process that rarely includes a candidate that is worthy of the conceptual foundation of democracy itself... Of the people, for the people and most importantly, by the people. I know that I am a little biased, however, your much appreciated and revered presence here today is a true testimony to the integrity, honor, professionalism and commitment to public service that were the corner stones of my brother’s career.

In regards to my brother’s death, I believe that if he were confronted with his physical killers today he would indeed try to help them and rehabilitate them to the best of his ability. If he were confronted with those who are responsible for orchestrating this cowardly assassination he would challenge them intellectually and probably try to help them to understand the futility of their actions and then leave them to the mercy of the people and the criminal justice system. It occurs to me repeatedly how we have seen this chain of events time and time again throughout history. Yet we fail to learn the lessons that they offer us. My brother has joined the honorable list of heros such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Medgar Evers and Malcom X. I do not hesitate to name my brother, Derwin Brown, in the same breath as these giants of vision because he too had chosen to speak truth to power and walk courageously and fearlessly into battle against the forces of evil, corruption and injustice. My brother fought for all people regardless of the color of their skin. However, he was particularly impassioned about the concerns of his own people. Those of African descent who have been historically oppressed and disenfranchised in this country. He believed that in order for justice to truly exist it must exist for all people. We have a long way to go.

It is important for all of you to realize and understand that it is impossible to kill a man such as my brother. You cannot kill a man who has already given his life, heart and soul to a cause and to his community. He paid the ultimate price for all of us. His death was a confirmation of all that he challenged and a testament to what he believed in. He was an honorable man, who led a honorable life and had a honorable death.

In closing, I would like to remind all of you and state emphatically that my brother, Derwin Brown, was not a dreamer. As he had pointed out in one of his many insightful articles in his column "Tell It Like It Is," "A dream is a succession of images, thoughts or emotions passing through the mind during sleep." My brother was anything but asleep. He was a visionary. And it was his vision and hope that all of those who are indeed asleep would wake up and realize that they must take control of the systems and institutions that govern them and insure that there is truth, justice and integrity in all their applications.

My brother’s legacy continues. As he has fought for you, his brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and for those in the community which he served, so now must you all carry on his legacy and be strong and continue the fight for justice, truth and equality. Be fearless and do not be fooled by imposters and opportunists who would seek to dishonor what my brother lived and died for. WAKE UP AND SEE WHAT IS THERE TO BE SEEN !