A LOOK BACK: KAPPA HISTORY
Robert Lee Brokenburr Civil Rights Activist, First Black Indiana State Senator One of Indiana's Pioneering Black Lawyers
By Kevin Scott, Grand Historian
In the early 1900s, segregation in the United States became institutionalized, and blacks' civil rights were severely obstructed. In response to the mounting acts of discrimination, blacks began to migrate from the rural South to the North. Despite their residence change, many blacks found their mere presence or chance encounters by some whites, a predicament from which they would need defense. The endurance of the racist antebel- lum culture and intolerant convictions created the need to establish civil rights organizations and black attorneys who were sensitive to their cause. attorney after being admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1910. He made the acquaintance and partnered with Ransom, who became the Brokenburr and Bailey firm's third part- ner. Knox introduced twenty-four-year-old Brokenburr to black hair care and cosmetics magnate Madam C.J. Walker. Walker had recently relocated her headquarters to Indianapolis and sought to align herself with highly skilled business professionals who could further elevate her company. Walker was so enamored with Brokenburr; she retained him to manage her legal affairs, serving as her general counsel. Upon being assigned in this role, Brokenburr filed the Articles of Incorporation for the C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, September 19, 1911. As a new attorney, his association with Walker brought credibility and notoriety to his law career. Walker subsequently met Ransom, Brokenburr’s law partner, and was also impressed with his business man- agement acumen and legal skills. She hired him to run the day-to-day operation of the business and its finances. Ransom boarded at Madam Walker’s house and became the company's general manager and attorney, remaining in that position until he died in 1947. Brokenburr acted as Ransom's assistant, served as general manager for the
Robert Lee Brokenburr.
D uring that time, some early black attorneys, were men of Kappa Alpha Psi, including Freeman B. Ran- som (Indianapolis (IN) Alumni c. 1921), Robert Lee Bailey (Nu 1920), and Robert Lee Brokenburr (original Gamma of Indianapolis 1913). particularly in the state of Indiana, served as legal advocates for blacks whose civil rights were trampled upon. Some of these prominent lawyers
Enormous Strides from Humble Beginnings
Brokenburr, born November 16, 1886, in Phoebus, Virginia, was a former slave's son. Determined to create a better life, he sought education as his vehicle of advancement. Walk- ing in Booker T. Washington's footsteps, he attended and graduated from Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now known as Hampton University) in 1906. Brokenburr then matriculated to Howard University Law School, from which he earned his degree of law in 1909. Following graduation, Brokenburr became aware of In- dianapolis's employment opportunities from Indianapolis Freeman newspaper mogul George L. Knox and relocated to that city. While there, Brokenburr became a practicing
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