Brutus, Dennis, 1924-2009

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Born in 1924, Dennis Brutus is a South African-born poet and human rights activist who spearheaded a successful campaign to ban apartheid South Africa from international sport competitions. He founded the South African Sports Association in 1961 and the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SAN-ROC) in 1963, and was subsequently arrested and jailed, placed under house arrest, and banned from all literary, academic and political activities. He went into exile in 1966 and has lived in the United States since 1970, emerging over the years as a prominent lecturer and author, a professor of African literature and a major spokesperson in the international movement to end apartheid in South Africa.

From the guide to the Dennis Brutus Papers, 1970-1990, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)

Expatriate South African poet and activist, founder of the South African Sports Association; Brutus was instrumental in gaining the suspension of South Africa from Olympic competition.

From the description of Papers, 1962-1977. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 76952303

Born in 1924, Dennis Brutus is a South African-born poet and human rights activist who spearheaded a successful campaign to ban apartheid South Africa from international sport competitions.

He founded the South African Sports Association in 1961 and the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SAN-ROC) in 1963, and was subsequently arrested and jailed, placed under house arrest, and banned from all literary, academic and political activities. He went into exile in 1966 and has lived in the United States since 1970, emerging over the years as a prominent lecturer and author, a professor of African literature and a major spokesperson in the international movement to end apartheid in South Africa.

From the description of Dennis Brutus Papers, 1970-1990. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122533001

Dennis Brutus, poet and South African expatriate, was born in Southern Rhodesia in November, 1924. Brutus was an activist, working for an end to racial segregation in sport. He was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for his efforts, though he and his family eventually earned an exit visa from and moved to London in 1966. Brutus joined Northwestern University's faculty in 1971, and was granted political asylum in 1983. In 1986, Brutus joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburg. In addition to his teaching and political activism, Brutus published extensively and was known as the “poet laureate of South Africa”.

Parents Francis and Margaret were both South Africans teaching in Rhodesia when Brutus was born. Brutus spent the majority of his early years in Port Elizabeth, in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, and as a young man he attended St. Augustine's Teacher Training College. In 1944, Brutus entered Fort Hare University, a black student university from which many prominent black South Africans graduated.

Brutus completed his degree, in Psychology and English, in 1947, and was awarded the Chancellor's Prize. He taught high school and worked in the Department of Social Welfare as a social worker for the so-called colored population. During this period Brutus became involved in non-racial sports associations. In 1961 Brutus was involved as an organizer of black and mixed race South Africans in the attempt to bring about a national convention of all racial groups. He was subsequently banned from political activity for five years, and was dismissed from his teaching position. He studied Law at the University of Witwatersrand in 1962 and 1960.

In 1968, the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SAN-ROC) was formed, and Brutus was elected first President. In May of 1963 Brutus was arrested for contravention of his banning orders. In August of that year he escaped from South Africa. He was arrested by the Portuguese secret police in September 1963, and was returned to Johannesburg, shot in the back during an escape attempt, and imprisoned at Robben Island. Released and banned again in 1965, Brutus was granted an exit visa and left with his family for London the following year.

In London Brutus worked in sports campaigns and with Canon Collins at International Defense and Aid. In 1970, he was offered, and accepted, a visiting professorship at the University of Denver. In July of 1971, Brutus was arrested for sitting down on Center Court at Wimbledon to protest racism in sport. In 1971 he took a post at Northwestern University in the English Department, where he has since 1973 served as Professor. In 1983, after a prolonged conflict with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, Brutus was granted political asylum.

Professor Brutus, who has been called the “poet laureate of South Africa” *, has published extensively, and has nine collections of his poetry in print, including Letters to Martha, A Simple Lust, China Poems, and Stubborn Hope . His poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and journals. He is the recipient of a number of prizes, including the Freedom Writer's Award (1975) and the Kenneth David Kaunda Award for Humanism (1979), and is one of the founders of the African Literature Association. He is involved with a number of political organizations whose concerns include racism in sport and the United States divestment movement. He lectures widely.

Brutus' teaching career at Northwestern University spanned the years 1971 to 1985. After a visiting professorship at Swarthmore College (1985-86), Brutus went on to a professorship at the University of Pittsburgh, holding a joint appointment in the English and the Africana Studies departments. He also held the post of Distinguished Visiting Humanist at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Since 1985, Brutus received honorary degrees from Worcester State College (MA), University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and Northeastern University. He was awarded the Langston Hughes Medallion from City University of New York in 1986 and the Paul Robeson Award for Artistic Excellence, Political Consciousness, and Integrity in 1989. Publications since 1984 include Salutes and Censures (1984), Airs and Tributes (1988), and Still the Sirens (1993).

From the guide to the Dennis Brutus (1924-2009) Papers, 1960-1984, (Northwestern University Archives)

Dennis Brutus, poet and South African expatriate, was born in Southern Rhodesia in November, 1924. Brutus was an activist, working for an end to racial segregation in sport. He was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for his efforts, though he and his family eventually earned an exit visa from and moved to London in 1966. Brutus joined Northwestern University's faculty in 1971, and was granted political asylum in 1983. In 1986, Brutus joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburg. In addition to his teaching and political activism, Brutus published extensively and was known as the “poet laureate of South Africa”.

Parents Francis and Margaret were both South Africans teaching in Rhodesia when Brutus was born. Brutus spent the majority of his early years in Port Elizabeth, in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, and as a young man he attended St. Augustine's Teacher Training College. In 1944, Brutus entered Fort Hare University, a black student university from which many prominent black South Africans graduated.

Brutus completed his degree, in Psychology and English, in 1947, and was awarded the Chancellor's Prize. He taught high school and worked in the Department of Social Welfare as a social worker for the so-called colored population. During this period Brutus became involved in non-racial sports associations. In 1961 Brutus was involved as an organizer of black and mixed race South Africans in the attempt to bring about a national convention of all racial groups. He was subsequently banned from political activity for five years, and was dismissed from his teaching position. He studied Law at the University of Witwatersrand in 1962 and 1960.

In 1968, the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SAN-ROC) was formed, and Brutus was elected first President. In May of 1963 Brutus was arrested for contravention of his banning orders. In August of that year he escaped from South Africa. He was arrested by the Portuguese secret police in September 1963, and was returned to Johannesburg, shot in the back during an escape attempt, and imprisoned at Robben Island. Released and banned again in 1965, Brutus was granted an exit visa and left with his family for London the following year.

In London Brutus worked in sports campaigns and with Canon Collins at International Defense and Aid. In 1970, he was offered, and accepted, a visiting professorship at the University of Denver. In July of 1971, Brutus was arrested for sitting down on Center Court at Wimbledon to protest racism in sport. In 1971 he took a post at Northwestern University in the English Department, where he has since 1973 served as Professor. In 1983, after a prolonged conflict with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, Brutus was granted political asylum.

Professor Brutus, who has been called the “poet laureate of South Africa”, has published extensively, and has nine collections of his poetry in print, including Letters to Martha, A Simple Lust, China Poems, and Stubborn Hope . His poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and journals. He is the recipient of a number of prizes, including the Freedom Writer's Award (1975) and the Kenneth David Kaunda Award for Humanism (1979), and is one of the founders of the African Literature Association. He is involved with a number of political organizations whose concerns include racism in sport and the United States divestment movement. He lectures widely.

Brutus' teaching career at Northwestern University spanned the years 1971 to 1985. After a visiting professorship at Swarthmore College (1985-86), Brutus went on to a professorship at the University of Pittsburgh, holding a joint appointment in the English and the Africana Studies departments. He also held the post of Distinguished Visiting Humanist at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Since 1985, Brutus received honorary degrees from Worcester State College (MA), University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and Northeastern University. He was awarded the Langston Hughes Medallion from City University of New York in 1986 and the Paul Robeson Award for Artistic Excellence, Political Consciousness, and Integrity in 1989. Publications since 1984 include Salutes and Censures (1984), Airs and Tributes (1988), and Still the Sirens (1993).

From the guide to the Dennis Brutus Defense Committee, Records of the, 1963-1983, 1982-1983, (Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies)

Dennis Brutus, poet and South African expatriate, was born in Southern Rhodesia in November, 1924. Brutus was an activist, working for an end to racial segregation in sport. He was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for his efforts, though he and his family eventually earned an exit visa from and moved to London in 1966. Brutus joined Northwestern University's faculty in 1971, and was granted political asylum in 1983. In 1986, Brutus joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburg. In addition to his teaching and political activism, Brutus published extensively and was known as the “poet laureate of South Africa”.

Parents Francis and Margaret were both South Africans teaching in Rhodesia when Brutus was born. Brutus spent the majority of his early years in Port Elizabeth, in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, and as a young man he attended St. Augustine's Teacher Training College. In 1944, Brutus entered Fort Hare University, a black student university from which many prominent black South Africans graduated.

Brutus completed his degree, in Psychology and English, in 1947, and was awarded the Chancellor's Prize. He taught high school and worked in the Department of Social Welfare as a social worker for the so-called colored population. During this period Brutus became involved in non-racial sports associations. In 1961 Brutus was involved as an organizer of black and mixed race South Africans in the attempt to bring about a national convention of all racial groups. He was subsequently banned from political activity for five years, and was dismissed from his teaching position. He studied Law at the University of Witwatersrand in 1962 and 1960.

In 1968, the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SAN-ROC) was formed, and Brutus was elected first President. In May of 1963 Brutus was arrested for contravention of his banning orders. In August of that year he escaped from South Africa. He was arrested by the Portuguese secret police in September 1963, and was returned to Johannesburg, shot in the back during an escape attempt, and imprisoned at Robben Island. Released and banned again in 1965, Brutus was granted an exit visa and left with his family for London the following year.

In London Brutus worked in sports campaigns and with Canon Collins at International Defense and Aid. In 1970, he was offered, and accepted, a visiting professorship at the University of Denver. In July of 1971, Brutus was arrested for sitting down on Center Court at Wimbledon to protest racism in sport. In 1971 he took a post at Northwestern University in the English Department, where he has since 1973 served as Professor. In 1983, after a prolonged conflict with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, Brutus was granted political asylum.

Professor Brutus, who has been called the “poet laureate of South Africa”, has published extensively, and has nine collections of his poetry in print, including Letters to Martha, A Simple Lust, China Poems, and Stubborn Hope . His poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and journals. He is the recipient of a number of prizes, including the Freedom Writer's Award (1975) and the Kenneth David Kaunda Award for Humanism (1979), and is one of the founders of the African Literature Association. He is involved with a number of political organizations whose concerns include racism in sport and the United States divestment movement. He lectures widely.

Brutus' teaching career at Northwestern University spanned the years 1971 to 1985. After a visiting professorship at Swarthmore College (1985-86), Brutus went on to a professorship at the University of Pittsburgh, holding a joint appointment in the English and the Africana Studies departments. He also held the post of Distinguished Visiting Humanist at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Since 1985, Brutus received honorary degrees from Worcester State College (MA), University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and Northeastern University. He was awarded the Langston Hughes Medallion from City University of New York in 1986 and the Paul Robeson Award for Artistic Excellence, Political Consciousness, and Integrity in 1989. Publications since 1984 include Salutes and Censures (1984), Airs and Tributes (1988), and Still the Sirens (1993).

From the guide to the Dennis Brutus (1924-2009) Papers, 1960-1984, (Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Antioch Review mss., 1940-2007 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Ethel L. Payne Papers, 1857-1991, (bulk 1973-1991) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Brutus, Dennis, 1924-2009. Papers, 1962-1977. Northwestern University
creatorOf Nichols, Lee. [United States and Ghana, Africans and African Americans, 1967-1997] [sound recording] / collected by Lee Nichols. Indiana University, Archives of Traditional Music
creatorOf Dennis Brutus Defense Committee, Records of the, 1963-1983, 1982-1983 Melville J. Herskovits library of African studies
creatorOf Dennis Brutus (1924-2009) Papers, 1960-1984 Northwestern University Archives
creatorOf Brutus, Dennis, 1924-2009. Dennis Brutus Papers, 1970-1990. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Brutus, Dennis, 1924-2009. Correspondence with Singing Horse Press, 1986-1992. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Dennis Brutus (1924-2009) Papers, 1960-1984 Melville J. Herskovits library of African studies
referencedIn Oliver Tambo papers University of Connecticut. Libraries
referencedIn Leahy, William J. Office files of The American Poetry Review, 1981 University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Edward Dorn Papers University of Connecticut. Libraries
creatorOf Dennis Brutus Papers, 1970-1990 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
creatorOf Brutus, Dennis, 1924-. Dennis Brutus papers, 1959-1970 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Antioch review. corporateBody
associatedWith Blake, Sally. person
associatedWith Boyle, Kevin. person
associatedWith Brutus, Julian. person
associatedWith Brutus, May. person
associatedWith Dennis Brutus Defense Committee. corporateBody
correspondedWith Dorn, Edward. person
associatedWith First Pan African Cultural Festival (1968 : Algiers) corporateBody
associatedWith Gobe, Y. person
associatedWith Houser, George M. person
associatedWith International Campaign against Racism in Sport. corporateBody
associatedWith International Defense Aid Fund. corporateBody
associatedWith Jailer, Todd. person
associatedWith Leahy, William J. person
associatedWith Lindfors, Bernth. person
associatedWith Mandela, Nelson, 1918- person
associatedWith Mullane, Bill. person
associatedWith Nasdor, Marc. person
associatedWith Newnham, Thomas Oliver. person
associatedWith Nichols, Lee. person
associatedWith Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Program of African Studies corporateBody
associatedWith Pan-African Culture Festival. corporateBody
associatedWith Panofsky, Hans E. person
correspondedWith Payne, Ethel L. person
associatedWith Peters, Cynthia. person
associatedWith Ramsamy, Sam. person
associatedWith Richards, Trevor. person
associatedWith Rodriguez, Luis. person
associatedWith South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith South African Sports Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Spivack, Gayatri Chakravorty. person
associatedWith Sticht, Sybil. person
correspondedWith Tambo, Oliver, 1917- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
South Africa
South Africa
South Africa
South Africa
Subject
African literature
Anti-apartheid movement
Apartheid
Asylum, Right of
Blacks
Blacks
Discrimination in sports
Poets, South African
Poets, South African
Political refugees
Race discrimination
Race discrimination
South African poetry (English)
South African Poetry(English)
Sports
Sports
Occupation
Poets
Activity

Person

Birth 1924-11-28

Death 2009-12-26

Male

South Africans

English

Information

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