City of Gretna takes step to right a fatal mistake with Historic marker in honor of Royal Brooks

18th November 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Ryan Whirty
Contributing Writer

More than 70 years after he was murdered in cold blood by a city of Gretna police officer, Royal Brooks and his family have finally received a measure of justice when about 30 people gathered on a sunny autumn afternoon Nov. 9 to dedicate and unveil a state historical marker in his honor.

“The marker means so much,” Roy L. Brooks Jr., a Gretna resident and Royal Brooks’ grandson, told The Louisiana Weekly. “It not only represents my family, but so many families all over the world.”

In February 1948, as Brooks was boarding a bus at the Gretna ferry landing, he offered to swap nickels for a woman ahead of him who had boarded the wrong bus. The bus driver became angered and hailed Gretna police officer Alvin Bladsacker, who walked Brooks about a block from the bus stop and shot him twice in the back.

Although Bladsacker was indicted for manslaughter, an all-white jury acquitted him, leaving Brooks’ loved ones with sorrow and frustration with the systemic racism that permeated society for decades.

“My grandfather was doing a kind thing, because it doesn’t matter what race you were [to Royal],” Roy Brooks Jr. said. He called Bladsacker’s crime “cowardly” and the cop’s acquittal “totally unjust.”

Seven decades after Brooks’ murder, his case was taken up by the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project at Northeastern University’s School of Law in Boston, which joined with Brooks’ family and community volunteers to shine a light on Royal Brooks, his life and his sacrifice for kindness. They held a commemorative event in 2018 in Gretna, at which current Gretna Mayor Belinda Constant read a formal proclamation of apology for Brooks’ unjust, violent death.

A push for a state of Louisiana historical marker ensued, and the state Office of Tourism approved the move. On Nov. 9, Brooks family members, CRRJP representatives and others gathered at the same ferry landing where Royal Brooks met his tragic fate more than 70 years ago to unveil the marker.

Attorney Kaylie Simon of the CRRJP, who helped spearhead the restoration and recognition of Royal Brooks’ memory and the historical marker effort, said after the recent ceremony, “After decades of silence, now there is a historical marker accurately documenting what transpired in that very location.” Simon continued, “Part of restoring justice means giving acknowledgement to what happened and that it was wrong. We must take responsibility in addressing the historical trauma upon which our communities are built, in large part, so we stop repeating them. The marker gives some semblance of justice to the Brooks family and ensures that everyone who enters downtown Gretna will learn about his life and legacy.”

Last Saturday’s ceremony also included comments from Constant, who said that the city of Gretna is a very different community than the one marred by Jim Crow seven decades ago, saying that Gretna now preaches diversity and understanding. She noted that the section of downtown Gretna adjacent to the ferry landing is undergoing a major renovation and makeover that will be completed next year. She said she is proud that the historical marker for Royal Brooks will be a centerpiece of the massive capital undertaking.

Kyle M. Green Jr., a state representative-elect and Royal brooks’ great-grandnephew, told those assembled that while nothing can be done or said to fully right the wrong that was Royal’s murder, the community and society can use tragedies such as his death as opportunities for change and learning.

“We can learn from the mistakes of our past, and we can make sure we don’t make them again going forward,” Green said.

After the ceremony, Roy Brooks Jr., Royal’s grandson, noted to The Louisiana Weekly that the historical marker for Royal is the first of its kind in Gretna – a marker honoring the memory of an African-American citizen.

“It’s a first in Gretna,” he said, “and hopefully it will be something that remains there forever.”

The dedication ceremony began with an introduction by Iriane McCray, Royal Brooks’ great grand-daughter, who read a touching elegy to her great grandfather. McCray said that by offering to trade nickels to help a white woman who had gotten on the wrong bus, he showed society, however briefly, that another way – one of love and charity – could be possible, even in a time of hate and injustice.

“Revolutionary acts of kindness were not and are not something anyone should be threatened by or ashamed of,” she told the ceremony attendees. “What’s in your pure heart has to be taught to those who have been damaged enough to believe that hate is the way [and who believe] that things should be resolved by taking someone’s life and causing years of trauma misunderstood.

“Revolution kindness is intended to heal the wounded, the damaged and the caged, by being the example, even if it means you will hate me for it,” she added.

This article originally published in the November 18, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.