African-American Braceys
In Print
compiled by Edwin C. Dunn
Aaron Bracy - "Some of the events of this watershed year, 1858, illustrate new moods among whites as well as blacks. The attack on blacks that the state legislature attempted with its anti-Negro immigration bill had its counterpart in the lynching of a black man named Aaron Bracy in the town of Auburn in Placer County. Bracy was one of that small handful of Negroes who went into agriculture. He farmed a piece of land by himself about a mile from Auburn. In the course of an altercation with a white man named Murphy, from whom he had purchased some adjoining land, he struck Murphy in the head with a pick, wounding him mortally. Bracy walked to Auburn and turned himself in to the police. Upon learning the details, men from town then went out to bring in the injured man. A wave of rage rose against Bracy, and while he was in jail awaiting due process, a mob prepared to lynch him. There seems to have been a special hate for Bracy by white townsmen, perhaps because he was a very independent and hot-tempered man. Within a few days, the jail was stormed by the mob, and Bracy was taken out to be hanged. A Catholic priest attempted to persuade the mob to allow the courts to deal with the case. His pleas were to no avail. The hanging was viewed by San Francisco newspapers as outrageous, especially since Murphy was not yet dead. The fever and avarice of the mob continued for some weeks after the event. They plundered the lynched man’s house and then burned it down. When Bracy’s brother, Henry Bracy of Marysville, came to claim his brother’s land, he found it occupied and he was driven away."
Rudolph M. Lapp, Blacks in Gold Rush California (New Haven, 1977), p. 261.
Alfanette Bracey - "Oxford, Miss., Oct. 5 (AP)-- Registrar Robert B. Ellis said today that many Negroes had made inquiries and written letters about attending the University of Mississippi. But, he said, there are no applications from Negroes pending. Mr. Ellis said the application of Alfanette Bracey, a Negro coed from Jackson State College, had been refused because it was incomplete. He said Miss Bracey's application for admission to the 114-year-old university, desegregated this week by James H. Meredith, also lacked a full transcript. Miss Bracey, he said, has been informed of the action."
The New York Times, Oct. 6, 1962, p. 26.
Arnold Bracy - He was a 21-year-old corporal from Queens, New York, serving in the United States Marines, accused of spying at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in 1987. He was charged, along with another marine, with turning off embassy alarms and allowing Soviet agents to roam through the embassy and enter sensitive areas. Cpl. Bracy reportedly confessed, but later recanted, and the charges were dropped for lack of evidence. He later said at a news conference that he had been approached by a Soviet cook at the embassy who tried to recruit him as a spy, an attempt which he rebuffed. Cpl. Bracy was a son of Theodore and Frieda Bracy of Queens, and had two sisters, Annette, 27, and Theda, 20, a student at Hunter College. His father was a transit worker and an ordained Pentecostal minister.
The New York Times, June 14, 1987, Sec. I, p. 44.
Newsweek, Vol. 109, No. 25, June 22, 1987.
Time, Vol. 129, No. 25, June 22, 1987.
Dock Columbus Bracy - He was a slave, a Baptist religious worker, and an agriculturalist; born Eatonton, Georgia, 11 June 1859.
Randall K. Burkett, Nancy Hall Burkett, Henry Louis Gates Jr. (eds.), Black Biography, 1790-1950. A Cumulative Index (Alexandria, VA, 1991), Vol. 1, A-J, p. 132. [Source: Arthur Bunyan Caldwell, History of the American Negro & His Institutions, Georgia Edition, Vol. I & II (A.B. Caldwell Publishing Co., Atlanta, 1917, 1920].
E.M. Bracey - He was a religious worker and a business person; a member of the African Methodist Episcopal church; born Austin, Texas.
Randall K. Burkett, Nancy Hall Burkett, Henry Louis Gates Jr. (eds.), Black Biography, 1790-1950. A Cumulative Index (Alexandria, VA, 1991), Vol. 1, A-J, p. 132.
Henry Bracey - He was a painter who studied at Shaw University; his untitled watercolors were exhibited at Sun Times/Daily News Gallery, Chicago, 1970.
Theresa Dickason Cederholm (comp; & ed.), Afro-American Artists. A Bio-Bibliographical Directory (Boston, 1973), p. 31.
Henry J. Bracey - An educator, he was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jan. 31, 1949; attended Western Michigan University, BS, 1971; University of South Carolina, MEd, 1981; SC Personnel and Guidance Association, member executive council, 1982; SC Association of Non-White Concerns, president and board member, 1982; Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunities Program personnel manager, 1983; Midlands Technical College counselor; published numerous articles on Cross-Cultural Counseling; son of Joe & Sheba M. (Davis) Bracey; child: Anton J.
Who’s Who Among Black Americans, 1988 (Northbrook, Ill, 1988), p. 72.
Christa Brelin (ed.), Who's Who Among Black Americans, 1992/3 (Detroit, 1992), p. 141.
Ishmon (Ishman) Bracey - A blues singer and guitarist, he was born Jan. 9, 1901 in Byram, Hinds Co., Mississippi, died Feb. 12, 1970 in Jackson, Mississippi, buried Willow Park, Jackson, Mississippi, son of Richard Bracey. He married Annie McLaurin. He was early interested in music, and served as a guide and traveling companion for Blind Lemon Jefferson, working streets and picnics throughout the Delta area of Mississippi into the 1920s. He often worked in local blues bands in the Jackson, Mississippi, area from the mid-1920s to the 1930s. He recorded for the Victor label in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1928; for the Paramount label in Grafton, Wisconsin, in 1930. He frequently worked with Tommy Johnson in Dr. Simpson’s Medicine Show and in other traveling shows through the South in the 1930s. From about 1935 into the 1940s he lived in Jackson, Mississippi, and worked outside of the music field. He became an ordained minister and served in local churches in Jackson from about 1950. His songs included: Busted Up Blues, Left Alone Blues, Pay Me No Mind, Saturday Blues, Suitcase Full of Blues, Trouble-Hearted Blues, and Woman Woman Blues.
Sheldon Harris, Blue’s Who’s Who, A Biographical Dictionary of Blues Singers (New Rochelle, NY, 1979), p. 64.
H. Wiley Hitchcock & Stanley Sadie (eds.), The New Grove Dictionary of American Music (N.Y,, 1986), p. 282.
John Henry Bracey Jr. - He was an educator, born Chicago, Illinois, July 17, 1941, attended Howard University, BA, history; Roosevelt University, ABD, history; Northwestern University, N.D.E.A. Fellow, 1966-69. He became Associate Professor of Afro-American History, University of Massachussetts, 1972-; Assistant Professor of History, University of Rochester, 1971-72; Lecturer, history, Northern Illinois University, 1969-71; Lecturer, Northeastern Illinois University, 1969. He has published 10 books, numerous articles, reviews, various aspects of the history and culture of Afro-Americans. He was a son of John Henry Bracey Jr. & Helen (Harris) Bracey. He married Jessica Swain; child, Kali; divorced. He married Ingrid Babb, Dec. 19, 1975; children, Bryan, John Peter.
Who’s Who Among Black Americans, 1988 (Northbrook, Ill, 1988), p. 72.
Christa Brelin (ed.), Who's Who Among Black Americans, 1992/3 (Detroit, 1992), p. 141.
Clare D. Kinsman & Mary Ann Tennenhouse (eds.), Comtemporary Authors, Vols. 29-32 (Detroit, 1972), pp. 73-74.
Maria Bracey - "Maria Bracey, an old Charleston negress who lost count of her years after she passed fifty, sat on the steps of her modest abode at 153 Queen street and pleasantly chatted about her life and beliefs:
"I belong to de African Met’odist. My preacher, he good but he want lot ob money; dey all do. I miss church sometime, but I hab good reason. W’en my shoes gib out I don’t go. Dey people stare an’ talk w’en you ain’t dress well.
"Hebben? It’s beautiful up dere. De tree ob life in Hebben, an’ honey an’ milk for eat. Dey no houses, dere be no rain an’ cold dere. Dey be no black an’ white; we be all alike den, an’ hab wings an’ play de harp. De fine w’ite folks ob Charleston gonna be surprise’ w’en dey miss an’ go down dere, where de black an’ white folks burn togedder.
"De Lawd? He haid like sheep wool an’ he eyes like fire.
"Father Devine? He no Divine Father; he ain’t no Gawd. He use’to be in Charleston, an’ he jus’ a plain nigger. W’en he leab, he say, "Come, follow me an’ I mek you angel,’ an’ lot ob women folks go, but dey debbils ‘stead ob angels. Father Devine, he satcherlijus, an’ ‘e ought to be horsewhip’ a hunnerd lashes.
"Lawsey, dey misery in dat knee, an’ it got me down. Cloudy wedder worst fo’ de miseries. No, I nebber marry. W’en love come, father say he out, he no good. Father, he right; dat nigger always be good for nuttin’. I got no mo’ time to court now, I got to work fo’ a libbin’.
Course David’s harp gold, can’t be nuttin’ ‘cept gold."
George P. Rawick (ed.), The American Slave: A Composite Autobiography. Supplement, Series 1. Vol. II, North Carolina & South Carolina Narratives (Westport, CT, 1977), p. 66-67 [ex-slave narratives collected by Federal Writers’ Project].
Maum Creola Bracey - "In the 1930s, in back of the Robert Mitchum home on Fair Street, [Camden, South Carolina] there lived a little, old, wrinkled black woman, 'Maum (Mom) Creola Bracey,' as she would introduce herself with enthusiasm! She was also called 'Aunt Cree' by all who knew and loved her. To the residents of Fair Street, from brides to matrons, who needed help to tend the baby, wash the diapers, or someone to just sit with and talk, Maum Cree was somehow always there. She later, after Mr. Mitchum's death, moved to the back of the Nancy Zemp Keene home on North Fair Street. At one time there, she had 35 cats who shared her tiny cottage. When asked how she managed to feed so many, she replied, 'Missey, I just cuts up newspapers in a big pot of grits, and that makes enough!'
"The Hobkirk Inn, Kirkwood Hotel and Court Inn used to pay Maum Cree to sing her spirituals for their Northern guests. She talked of having sold eggs when a girl to Mary Boykin Chesnut (author of Diary from Dixie) at Sarsfield. 'I walked through the woods to her house then!'
"On February 6, 1955, Maum Cree died, aged 105. The Willis Cheorn family, whom she loved dearly, especially her 'Miss Kate,' laid her to rest on February 12, 1955. She is buried in the Nazarene Baptist Church Cemetery at Cassatt.
"Her cheerful attitude, simple faith in, and love for her 'Folks' was sadly missed by all who knew and loved Maum Cree. I know my life was made richer by having been touched by hers."
"Maum Creola Bracey" by Helen M. Anderson, Kershaw County Legacy. A Commemorative History, L. Glen & Joan A. Inabinet (eds.) (Camden, SC: Kershaw County Bicentennial Commission, 1976), p. 20.
Rosa Brown Bracy - She was born Port Gibson, Mississippi, 16 Aug. 1896. She was an educator, religious worker, club leader, homemaker, and author; a member of the Disciples of Christ church.
Randall K. Burkett, Nancy Hall Burkett, Henry Louis Gates Jr. (eds.), Black Biography, 1790-1950. A Cumulative Index (Alexandria, VA, 1991), Vol. 1, A-J, p. 132 [Source: G. James Fleming & Christian E. Burckel (eds.), Who’s Who in Colored America (Supplement)(1950) (Yonkers-on-Hudson, NY, 1950, 7th edition).
Ursula Johnson Bracy - She was a public health nurse, educator, club leader; born Lake Charles, Louisiana, Mar. 9, 1908 (or 1912). She attended St. Louis University, BS, 1951; Kansas City General Hospital, 1932; postgraduate study, Cook County School of Nursing, Chicago. She was employed by Visiting Nurses Association of Greater St. Louis, staff nurse, 1934-51, supervisor, 1951-1973, retired. She was a member of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. She was a daughter of John J. & Evelyn (Simpson) Johnson, and married Jackson E. Bracey.
Who’s Who Among Black Americans, 1975-76 (Northbrook, ILL, 1976), p. 60.
Randall K. Burkett, Nancy Hall Burkett, Henry Louis Gates Jr. (eds.), Black Biography, 1790-1950. A Cumulative Index (Alexandria, VA, 1991), Vol. 1, A-J, p. 132 [Source: G. James Fleming & Christian E. Burckel (eds.), Who’s Who in Colored America (Supplement)(1950) (Yonkers-on-Hudson, NY, 1950, 7th edition).
Christa Brelin (ed.), Who's Who Among Black Americans, 1992/3 (Detroit, 1992), p. 141.
Warren de Bracy - A dentist, he was born Washington, DC, Apr. 25, 1955; educated Marquette University, BS, 1977; Meharry Medical College, DDS, 1982; Cook Co. General Hospital, 1982-83; Flight Dentist, Naval Air Station Andrews AFB, 1984-85; Periodontology Fellowship, US Navy Dental Corps, 1985-86; private practice.
Who’s Who Among Black Americans, 1988 (Northbrook, Ill, 1988), p. 72.
William Rubin Bracey - Chief William R. Bracey was New York City's highest-ranking black police official at the age of 58, and 33 years after he left the sanitation department to become a police officer. In 1979, he became "the second black to hold the three-star rank." He "was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 11, 1920, after his parents moved north from Virginia. His father died 11 weeks after the birth of his son and his mother worked as a domestic to support the family. 'My mother never remarried and she supported my older brother and sister and myself .... She took in washing and I used to take the clean clothes back. She died in 1947.'" He attended Delehanty Institute, 1962; John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 1966; Military Police School, 1973; New York City Police Dept. assist. chief, 1977-79, dep. chief, 1973-77, inspector 1973, dep. inspector 1972-73, captain 1970-72, lt. 1959-70, sgt. 1954-59, patrolman, 1945-54. He married Louise Alleyne; children: Frances Kirton, William Jr., Gary.
Christa Brelin (ed.), Who's Who Among Black Americans, 1992/3 (Detroit, 1992), p. 141.
The New York Times, March 23, 1979, Sec. II, p. 3.
Willie Earl Bracey - An attorney and educational administrator, he was born Jackson, Mississippi, Dec. 21, 1950; educated Wright Jr. College, AA, 1970; Mt. Senario College, BS, 1973; Eastern Illinois University, MS, 1976; Southern Illinois University, JD, 1979; Southern Illinois University law clerk, 1978-79; instructor Southern Illinois University Center for Basic Skill, 1977-78; research assistant Southern Illinois University Law School, 1977-78; Notre Dame Law School teaching assistant, 1977; Western Illinois University, director of student legal services, 1979; assistant vice president for student affairs special services. He was a son of Dudley & Alvaretta (King) Bracey, and married Dianne Fullenwilder, Aug. 15, 1987.
Who’s Who Among Black Americans, 1988 (Northbrook, Ill, 1988), p. 72.
Christa Brelin (ed.), Who's Who Among Black Americans, 1992/3 (Detroit, 1992), p. 141.
Who's Who in the Midwest, 1988-89 (Wilmette, IL, 1987), p. 87.