Joseph A. Brown, S.J., Ph.D., a native of East St. Louis, Illinois, is a Catholic priest with an extensive academic and pastoral career.
Following graduation from St. Louis University with a BA in Philosophy, he attended Johns Hopkins University where he gained a Master's Degree in Creative Writing. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1972, he taught Theater and Poetry at Creighton University for several years - eventually becoming artist-in-residence in 1978. Later, after receiving both his Master's degree in Afro-American Studies and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University, Fr. Brown taught at the University of Virginia and at Xavier University in New Orleans. Presently he is a Professor and the Chair of the Department of Africana Studies at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
In the Fall of 2009, he was the holder of the MacLean Chair of Jesuit Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. During his fall semester residency, he was a member of the SJU Department of English.
Active as a lecturer in the areas of African and African American spirituality, as well as African American History and Culture, he also periodically serves as a liturgical consultant to a variety of communities in the United States. In 1999 he consulted on the RENEW 2000 project, completing a five-booklet series in adult spiritual development, focusing on Black Catholic spirituality. He was appointed Congress Liturgist for both the 7th (New Orleans, 1992) and the 9th National Black Catholic Congress (Chicago, 2002).
Fr. Brown's book of poetry, Accidental Grace, was published in the Callaloo Poetry Series, in 1986. He has also published many articles on black theology and literature. His book on black spirituality, A Retreat with Thea Bowman and Bede Abram: Leaning on the Lord, was published by the St. Anthony Messenger Press in January, 1997. He has also written To Stand on the Rock: Meditations on Black Catholic Identity, which was published by Orbis Books in February, 1998. A collection of prayer services in the Black tradition, Sweet, Sweet Spirit - written with the assistance of Fr. Fernand Cheri, OFM - was published by St. Anthony Messenger Press in fall, 2006. In the spring of 2009, The Sun Whispers, Wait: New and Collected Poems, was published by Brown Turtle Press.
In addition to his academic responsibilities, Fr. Brown also serves as an associate member of the Newman Catholic Center Staff in Carbondale.
Obtained from http://www.africanastudies.siuc.edu/faculty/brown.html, 12/21/11
PLEASE SEE FR. BROWN'S JANUARY 18 PRESENTATION AT CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY ON YOUTUBE AT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5lRErYM-_4&list=UUIaZl4CURUG2CuXvI7xB_zA&index=3&feature=plcp