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Brutus was born in 1924 in Southern Rhodesia and moved to Port Elizabeth, South Africa early in his childhood. Both of his parents were teachers and committed to social causes. His mother made sure Brutus knew of his racial background – he was considered “Colored” as he was of both African and English descent. As a high student, he became conscious of the racial problems present through the “uneven and spotty” education (McLuckie 2). He began writing poetry in high school and received a City Council bursary to Fort Hare College, Cape. He was one of only two non-whites to go to college from Port Elizabeth.

Upon graduating with a degree in English and Psychology, he began teaching as a high school English teacher in 1948. His nonconformist tendencies were evident “as he refused to accept the school system’s policies and taught what he ‘thought the kids were ready to learn’” (McLuckie 4).

As apartheid laws continued to be passed in the 1950s, Brutus’s protest writing began, and he wrote for the African National Congress and was published in various newspapers and the African National Congress. However, it was Brutus choices of the form of protest that would elevate him to a leader in the anti-apartheid movement.

An outline of his involvement:

· 1958 – Founded the Sports African Sports Association (SASA) (later the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee)

o The goal of the organization was “to draw attention to South Africa’s infringement of the Olympic Charter and to advocate non-racial sports.” South Africa’s Olympic teams were white only. However, despite the evidence Brutus provided to the International Olympic Committee, the IOC ignored SASA’s attempt to prevent South Africa from competing in the 1960 Rome Olympics (Nauright 1960).

· 1961 – Was one of leaders of the Coloured National Convention whose purpose was to draft a Constitution outlining their common goals. Representatives from a spectrum of organizations attended, and the aim was to promote unity. “We were making it very clear that we would never sell out, never make a deal” (McLuckie 11).

o Because of the meeting, he was banned under the Suppression of Communism Act for five years from any gathering and forbidden to teach, write, and publish.