The late activist and humanitarian Hazel Angela Brown had the distinction of being “a relentless fighter for social justice and women’s rights” and was a “best in the normal sense of the word”.
These were the words used by the founder of the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (ESCTT) Dr Asha Kambon, in the tribute during the “celebration of the extraordinary life and legacy” of Brown, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Port of Spain yesterday .
Brown died on September 22 at the age of 80.
Tributes also came from her successor director of the Trinidad and Tobago Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for the Advancement of Women, Jacqueline Burgess, who said: “Long before intersectionality and inclusion were buzzwords in modern activism, Hazel i practiced those concepts.”
Tributes poured in from her son, Garvin Brown, and son-in-law and radio personality, Garth St Clair. The youngest child, Natasha Nunez, delivered the eulogy. Also present were her two other daughters, Dr Leah Brown, who gave a short poem, and Justice Carla Brown-Antoine, who read from the Book of Wisdom, chapter three, verses one to nine.
Among the dignitaries present were former President Anthony Carmona, Chief Justice Ivor Archie, former Culture Minister Joan Yuille-Williams, opposition MPs Khadijah Ameen and Wade Mark, Dr Kris Rampersad, journalist Dr Sheila Rampersad and history teacher Miguel Browne.
Delivering the sermon, Roman Catholic Vicar General Fr Martin Sirju said: “Hazel was not a parked car. She did not park at 60 or 70. She continued to work at the Diego Martin Corporation. It was an exotic Caribbean orchid.”
Exemplary life
In her tribute, Asha Kambon said: “In Trinidad, Guyana, across the Caribbean, her life has been an example for the next generation to understand what a life of service to the national and Caribbean community looks like. It helps us understand what a culture of service means in a growing national culture where ‘you look ‘for you’ and I look ‘for me’ is fast becoming the normalized value.
HEART CONVERSATION: Former president Anthony Carmona talks to the daughters of activist Hazel Brown after her funeral service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain, yesterday. From right are Natasha Nunez, Leah Brown and Judge Carla Brown-Antoine. —Photo: CURTIS CHASE
“Brown understood that you think global and act local. She knew that every aspect of our lives was framed by political action or in action. She knew that what we experienced today was the result of colonial and neo-colonial structures that had not yet been dismantled. She heard the call of Jamaican poet Lorna Goodison, who said, “Mother, the great stones upon humanity must be moved.” She was up to the challenge and organized women to join her in moving those stones and to stand in solidarity with the efforts of others when necessary. In that effort she received the ire and support of many—one in particular was Yuille-Williams, who not only cared for Hazel as a woman warrior, but as a wife and friend who needed support as a cancer survivor.
After raising the Network’s profile, Burgess said he benefited from Hazel’s many strengths, “she was a clear thinker, a strategic organizer, a good communicator, both verbally and in writing. She addressed issues such as reproductive rights and health, media monitoring, violence against women and children, women in leadership and decision-making, and women in politics.
She added: “Locally, Hazel’s views were well respected. She was very often called upon to answer the trending issues in the news. She would even express the position of the Network through a press release. There were times when she chose to remain silent on an issue that had sparked community outrage, and without fail you could hear talk show hosts or callers saying, “Where’s Hazel Brown?” She addressed issues for herself, the community and the country.”
On a lighter note, she said: “The network thanks him. A chocolate, a cream, or maybe a beige color might rise, but not another brown.”
My mother, my hero
After losing his father (Herman Brown) at a tender age, son Garvin Brown described his mother as his hero. “I loved my mother to death. She could do no wrong. She was kind, brilliant and caring. Brave. Passionate. A warrior. She had the biggest impact on the person I am,” he said.
St Clair, who served as a pallbearer, told how he and Hazel Brown were at odds over her refusal to leave her daughter (Natasha) to someone with his checkered record. He said Yuille-Williams insisted Brown attend their wedding and she made and delivered a memorable speech. Brown, however, still had a strong determination, but one day, after he had helped her decorate Tru Valu (supermarket), she said to one of the managers: “Meet my son-in-law.”
He said: “True story. I started walking home. After about two minutes, I forgot I had the car. I’m back. I went home and told Natasha. We had a good laugh.”
