[2][3] His mother was a teacher and his father, Roscoe C. Brown Sr. (1884–1963), was a dentist and an official in the United States Public Health Service[4] who was born as George Brown and had changed his name to honor Roscoe Conkling, a strong supporter of the rights of African Americans during Reconstruction.

[11] Brown also hosted Black Arts (1970–71)[12] and CUNY TV show African American Legends.

[10] Brown was President of Bronx Community College from 1977 to 1993 and director for the Center for Education Policy at the City University of New York.

[14] In 1992, Brown received an honorary doctor of humanics degree from his alma mater, Springfield College.

On March 29, 2007, Brown attended a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol rotunda, where he and the other Tuskegee Airmen were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service.