Dr. Marcus McBroom, PhD.

  
   DR. MARCUS MCBROOM 1960s SPRINGFIELD OHIO MANHATTAN  NEW YORK LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA DR. MCBROOM 1990s

 

 DR. MARCUS MCBROOM, Ph.D. 1921 - 2000

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Marcus S. W. McBroom was a notable leader in civic and community activities. He was a practicing psychotherapist, marriage counselor, lecturer and writer. He had offices in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. He was also a research associate at Cedars Sinai Hospital in the early days of career.

Marcus S.W. McBroom was born in Columbus Ohio. He was the only surviving triplet, born into the family of Reverend George and Elizabeth Mc Broom. The McBrooms grew to be a family with 13 children. Marcus was a sickly child and his parents sent him to the family farm in Springfield Ohio. He often spoke of his Grandmother 'Honey Feather' who was a full blooded Cherokee Indian. She was a towering 6 feet tall and very strick. He grew stronger and rejoined the family in Columbus. His Mother's Father Mr. Chandler was Sicilian. They survived the depression in the 1930s and the crushing oppression of the intense racial discrimination motivated his social activism in later life. His Father was once denied admission into the hospital due to his race. By the time he reached a hospital that would admit him he was pronounced dead. He family prayed for him and he miraculously came back to life! Of course that re-enforced the family's Pentacostal faith in God.

A YOUNG MARCUS MCBROOM PICTURED HERE WITH BROTHERS ROBERT AND ARTHUR ALONG WITH THEIR FRIENDS.


Dr. McBroom was the first member of his family to go to college. He received his education at Wilberforce University and later served at Tuskegee Army Air Hospital School. He was a graduate of Columbia University and received his Doctorate of Education degree at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

Dr. Mc Broom wrote newspaper columns for various outlets over the years and he was an outstanding champion of civil rights for all Americans. He was a accomplished public speaker who was very politically active and astute. He traveled the United States and abroad extensively. As a young student he worked as a waiter for the Pullman railroad company. His military service took him to Burma and various other Asian and European countries. He enjoyed traveling, exploring many cultures throughout his life.


MARCUS MCBROOM DURING WORLD WAR II.

Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt frequently invited Marcus McBroom to the White House as a member of an exclusive group of African American Wilberforce University students.

MARCUS MCBROOM,PHD WITH FIRST LADY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT  

She personally corresponded with him. His  relationship with Mrs. Roosevelt resulted in his becoming a Special Assistant to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the problems of discrimination in the U.S. Air Force.

  
  JOE PYNE  SHOW            |     FIRST LADY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT     |      PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT    |     SENATOR ROBERT KENNEDY    |      MALCOLM X    

During the civil rights era Dr. Marcus McBroom befriended and worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also participated in numerous debates, which included Malcolm X as a  participant on the L.A. based Joe Pyne radio show.  

DR. MARCUS MCBROOM'S INTERVIEW ABOUT HWHAT HE WITNESSED THE NIGHT ROBERT KENNEDY WAS SHOT.

Dr. McBroom became a colleague of Senator Robert Kennedy. McBroom was invited to Kennedy's victory rally at the infamous Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel to discuss joining Senator Kennedy's team as a speech writer. However that was also the fateful night Kennedy was assasinated. 

A YOUNG MARCUS MCBROOM WITH W.E.B.DUBOIS AND HIS WIFE SHIRLEY GRAHAM DUBOIS 

  
DR. MARCUS MCBROOM AND DR. MARTIN LUTHUR KING                              TIME MAGAZINE PHOTO -BETTMANN/CORBIS 
  
Dr. McBroom married three times and had seven children. He and first wife; pianist Marie Lee were married in New York City. She is a Julliard graduate and remains an activist who befriended many aspriring actors, singers and eventual celebrity elites such as Maya Angelou, Malcolm X and Harry Belefonte. They had two daughters, Marcia Leanne and Dana Annette. Their daughters grew up to become accomplished entertainers and educators.

  
MARIE LEE MCBROOM                   DANA MCBROOM MANNO, MARCIA MCBROOM SMALL, MARCUS 


MARCIA MCBROOM, CHENANA MANNO, DANA MANNO, MARIE LEE MCBROOM, GREG LANDESS

His second wife Fletcher Pearl Riley became F. Pearl McBroom, M.D. Their wedding took   place in Los Angeles California at the Holman Methodist church. He was their college professor's aid. The professor asked McBroom to help him pick between two female medical students to fill the one slot left to for admission at U.C.L.A. medical school. Marcus advised him to pick Fletcher Pearl Riley. She is now believed to have been the first African American female Cardiologist to go into private practise in the United States. They had two daughters, Lorelei Joyce and Pamela Carol (a.k.a. Durga). Lorelei and Durga became successful entertainers following in the footsteps of their big sisters. 

 
F. PEARL RILEY MCBROOM AND MARCUS MCBROOM ON THEIR WEDDING DAY              DR. MARCUS MCBROOM AS SEEN IN GOLDEN WEST MAGAZINE

His third marriage was to Katherine Martinez. She is a licensed cosmetologist and retired legal secretary. Their wedding was held in Oahu Hawaii. They had one daughter; Laura Jennifer, and two John Marc Robeson, and James Ali. Laura briefly pursued a singing career before deciding to become a teacher and eventually a stay at home Mother of four children. John is a decorated Naval Officer and James is an accomplished member of the National Guard and manager at Home Depot (a large national home improvement chain store) when off duty. Between the two of them, they have served in Japan, Iraq and Afganistan  among other countries on numerous tours. Thankfully for the McBroom brothers they have safely returned to us.

   
CATHY MCBROOM          JOHN, JAMES. LAURA, MARCUS    JAMES MCBROOM                    JOHN, MARCUS, LAURA AND JAMES

Marcus was always a patron of music and the arts. He and first wife Marie, founded the Lemac School of the Arts in New York City (prior to his relocating to Los Angeles with   second wife Pearl.) Their school was frequented by such great talents as Sidney Poitier, Harry Belefonte and even Sammy Davis Jr. Marcus befriend Jazz legend Charlie Parker and Chairman of the board Frank Sinatra. Dianne Carroll also became an associate and noted family friend, once he moved to Los Angeles. He exposed his children to his great appreciation of the arts, which later influenced most of them to pursue careers in the field of Entertainment: Marcia a model, dancer and actress (Beyond the Valley of the Dolls)  Jesus Christ Super Star) Dana an actress, singer, songwriter, choreographer and director (Leadbelly, Grace Jones),  Lorelei  (The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart), Durga a.k.a. Pamela, (Pink Floyd, Blue Pearl), Laura (her own local L.A. R&B vocal trio band and numerous Gospel engagements). His sons also excelled in computer work, and John in the study of law in the Navy's Jag division as well as theology.

  
CHARTON HESTON, DR. PEARL, MRS. HESTON, DR. MARCUS               DIANNE CAROL

He shared offices with his nationally renouned (former) wife, F. Pearl Mc Broom M.D. (Internist and Cardiologist) at the Julian Ross Medical Center in Los Angeles. He went on to work alongside his long term friend and colleague Fred Weaver III, M.D. (Psychiatrist) in private practice and with his Institute For Creative Living in Los Angeles  (Dr. Weaver, who now retired, resides in Marina Del Rey.

  
DRs. PEARL & MARCUS, FRED WEAVER III, MD, PAT WEAVER   DR. MARCUS MCBROOM, FRIEND, CATHY MCBROOM, L.A.MAYOR TOM BRADLEY

Dr. Mc Broom was the President of the L.A. Pan Hellenic Council and had been the official lecturer for the County Conference on Human Relations. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Phi Bets fraternity and staff psychotherapist for Holman Methodist Church. Both Drs. Mc Broom were life members of the N.A.A.C.P. and he had twice been a member  of the L.A. NAACP s executive board.

Following his retirement from the Los Angeles County Probation Department’s youth division, (for which he served as a counselor and therapist,) he continued his work with Fred Weaver III, M.D. in Community Psychiatry at The Charles Drew, Martin Luther King Medical Center (Hawkins Community Mental Health Clinic). They consulted many mental health and addiction programs in South Los Angeles California. He was a very active member of the Los Angeles Community. He wrote weekly articles in numerous news periodicals, and was a speaker and regular participant in the Science of Mind Church in Los Angeles. He was devoted to his family and friends and always promoted uplifting programs for self-awareness and inner growth to those in his community.

  
Dr. Marcus Mc Broom, Ph.D. came a long way from his Ohio farm boy roots, to become a noted and respected member of the African American community. His influence helped to shape the accomplishments of his internationally renowned children. His daughters Marcia Mc Broom-Small, Dana McBroom-Manno, and Lorelei Mc Broom live in New York City,
working in the fields of Education and Entertainment. Daughter Durga Mc Broom-Hudson lives in Los Angeles, working in the fields of Entertainment Daughter Laura Mc Broom- Cox lives in Houston Texas. Son John Mc Broom lives in Seattle Washington with plans to return to his beloved Japan where met his wife and wishes to continue raising his sons. Lastly son James Mc Broom is in Los Angeles.

Dr. Mc Broom’s grandchildren and great grandchildren range from Marcia’s sons Jeremy's (Jeremiah Hosea) his son Marcus, and Gregory Landess's and his son Hendrix and daughter Sanana. Dana’s daughter Chenana Manno, Lorelei’s son Miles Litteral, Laura’s children Jakaan, Elle, Arron, and Mia Coxx. John’s sons Zion and David Mc Broom and James’ children Noah and Jaelyn McBroom.