These trailblazers planted historical roots in New Britain, paving the path for future generations to travel.
 

Connie Wilson Collins remembers that her mother used to tell her, "You are your brother’s keeper." This is the motto to which Collins credits her motivation for becoming so involved in the community. "When I was in high school, I wanted to major in sociology like so many of us, because you think you can solve all the problems of the world," Collins said.

Collins moved from New York to New Britain when she was 16 years old. And, at the age of 21 the newly elected president of the NAACP became active in writing letters to the editor.

"I wrote negative letters to the editor about what was going on in our community. And I remember the first letter was about a fire that was on Hartford Avenue, and I wrote an article about how most of those fires were in neighborhoods where poor folks lived," Collins said.

"I talked about how absentee landlords didn’t take care of the houses, and how electrical shortages affected our people. I was involved in anything that was going on in the community. I was very vocal."

Collins also became active in the labor movement while working in the factories, and testified before state officials on topics she felt were affecting working people. "I wanted my people to have an agenda, so I became heavily involved in the labor union, at a time when the civil rights movement was on the rise."

With a list of accomplishments deeply embedded in the fabric of New Britain’s community, Collins gives credit to fellow trailblazer Alton Brooks for encouraging her to found Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Britain.

"After coming back from a visit to Philadelphia, Alton called me up and said, ‘We think you should start OIC’," Collins said. "So, I did."

For Collins, Dr. Leon Sullivan the national founder of OIC impressed and influenced her greatly. "What impressed me is that he never took pay from the national organization, and became very involved in Africa," Collins said. "I think I tried to follow him, and became very involved too. I’m very concerned that our American Africans don’t realize the closeness we should have with our people in Africa."

She was the first black person elected to public office in New Britain, serving three terms as alderwoman on the Common Council, and was at the forefront of the drive to rename Hartford Avenue in New Britain to Martin Luther King Drive.

After receiving a masters degree in education from Harvard University at the age of 52 she has strong advice for the next generation of trailblazers. "Take one step at a time. If you make up your mind that there is something that you want you need to make short term plans, instead of long-term. The shorter plans are easier to see."

Brooks came to New Britain during WWII, and worked in the factories making items for the war. He arrived in New Britain with a group of black men who came during that time to look for work. But he and his friends were different than most, examining closely the community to see where they could effect change.

"We started the Black Democratic Club, and just wanted to be involved in the community. There was a need in the community to address the issues about blacks. Blacks weren’t being hired, we weren’t welcomed certain places, and there was so much discrimination," Brooks said. "And, so we began to look forward and think about what we could do for the community."

Brooks also became active in the NAACP, serving as executive director of New Britain’s Human Rights and Opportunities department. He was the first black person on the board of directors of the organization. And he still devotes much of his time to the volunteering in the community.

"It’s not like I can sit back and rest. Connie and I still have to continue to work. But we need the young people to come along and take over," Brooks said. "I’d like to see the youth more involved. There’s so much still left to do.

"I’m well aware as I go through the community, that there are youth who have no concept of the struggles of our past -- what it was like to live without rights, or to be denied access to places and things. My goal is to keep the memory of the struggle alive."

With over a half century of human right activism under his belt, Brooks has established a strong foundation of commitment to the principles of assisting blacks in New Britain. He’s happy to see the benefits of his hard work in changes that have taken place in New Britain over the years.

"We have Rev. Tillet on the Board of Ed, Tonilynn Collins on the city council," Brooks said. "So, there are young people coming in, but there needs to be more. I do give thanks to the Lord that all the work wasn’t in vain."

Franchone Fraser-Ben Reuben Bey can be reached at ffraser@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, Ext. 221.