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| United Nations Association of the United States of America Greater Oklahoma City Chapter P.O. Box 60856 Oklahoma City, OK 73146-0856 Contact Us |
| The United Nations Association is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that supports the work of the United Nations and encourages active civic participation in the most important social and economic issues facing the world today. As a local chapter of the nation's largest grassroots foreign policy organization, the UN Association of Greater OKC offers Oklahomans the opportunity to connect with issues confronted by the UN -- from global health and human rights to the spread of democracy, equitable development and international justice. |
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Remembering Hannah Atkins, 1923 - 2010
by Bill Bryant
When Hannah Diggs Atkins was 44 years old, America
was a very turbulent land. Martin Luther King, Jr., had
just been assassinated. A war was raging in Vietnam.
Economic disparity gripped the nation, with large
numbers of people trapped in poverty. Women and
minorities were still struggling for equal rights -- even
after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Hannah's friends and neighbors persuaded her to
run for election to the State Legislature.
As a candidate, Hannah was not a fiery speaker.
A librarian in her professional life, she was bookish, and she loved the law. She loved education, too.
During her lifetime, she earned college degrees from three universities, and she studied law at Oklahoma
City University. But, she wasn't arrogant.
The voters recognized her commitment to defending the dignity of every person. They saw that she had an
engaging personality, a brilliant mind, and a deep interest in the needs of her community. She was a solid
communicator, and the voters of District 97 sensed that she was honest -- the real deal.
In November of 1968, Hannah became the first black woman elected to
serve in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives. It was the
beginning of a dynamic career of public service to the state of
Oklahoma, the nation, and the world.
In the legislature, Ms. Atkins served side-by-side with other progressives who, like herself, were determined
to move Oklahoma forward. Inevitably, though, there were also quite a few politicians who resisted the winds
of change that were blowing across America. They were reactionaries. Some of them were former
Klansmen. Many of them simply failed to understand the new challenges and the new opportunities that
were facing our state.
During her years in the legislature -- from 1969 to 1980 -- Hannah fought for health care, child welfare,
mental health reform and civil rights. She gained the respect of her peers. They saw her commitment to
honesty and her dedication to public service.
Henry Bellmon was one of Hannah's many admirers. Though they were of different political parties, Bellmon
respected Ms. Atkins' abilities. In 1983, when Bellmon was head of Oklahoma's Department of Human
Services, he selected Hannah to serve as his Assistant Director. Her responsibilities included the Division of
Aging.
Later, after Bellmon's election to a second term as Governor of Oklahoma in 1986,
he appointed Hannah to his Cabinet as Secretary for Social Services. In Sept-
ember, 1987, Hannah added Secretary of State to her duties, and she served in
dual roles in the Cabinet. She was the highest ranking woman in Oklahoma state
government until her retirement in 1991.
Her accomplishments at the state level gained the attention of President Jimmy
Carter. In 1980, he invited Hannah to join the United States delegation to the 35th
session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. She was a member of the
Third Committee which concentrated on social and economic issues. Additionally,
from 1979 to 1982, Ms. Atkins served as a representative to UNESCO -- the United
Nations Educational, scientific, and Cultural Organization.
Hannah's appointment to represent America in the United Nations was a momentous occasion -- one which
influenced the rest of her life. While at the UN, Hannah developed a deeper appreciation for the
international organization whose purpose and mission had long appealed to her. Even after her public
career ended in 1991, Hannah dedicated many of her retirement years in service to the United Nations
Association of the USA.
In the UN, Hannah saw an organization which has the capacity to
promote the causes she believed in -- human rights, health care,
child welfare, and so on -- on a global scale.
When I first met Hannah Atkins, I had just been elected to the board of
directors of our local chapter of the UN Association. It was around the turn
of the millennium. Hannah was a leader of the chapter, and she clearly
enjoyed her friendship with the members of our group. She participated in national meetings of UNA-USA,
representing our little chapter in Oklahoma City. Though we supported Hannah's travel with a small stipend
from our modest chapter treasury, she bore a good part of the cost from her own purse. That was a
measure of her dedication to the goals of UNA-USA.
I'm convinced that Hannah chose to support the UNA-USA because she believed strongly in the high
principles of the United Nations' Charter. She supported U.S. participation in the UN, and she was
determined to promote a greater public appreciation for the indispensible organization.
Too soon, Hannah retired from her community activities. Advancing years and declining energy levels
convinced her to move to Maryland, where she could be closer to her daughter. Even so, her contributions
to our chapter have not been forgotten.
Our Oklahoma City chapter of the United Nations Association has never been a large organization.
Throughout most of my tenure with the chapter, we have had to contend with elements in our community
who actively oppose the UN -- who have lobbied Congress to withdraw from it. We have a pitifully small
group of dues-paying members who support our chapter activities.
But, one thing we have never lacked is people in leadership positions who are smart, capable, and
dedicated to human rights, global health, international cooperation, equitable development, and the spread
of democracy.
As much as anyone, Hannah Atkins exemplifies the best attributes of our Oklahoma City chapter of the
United Nations Association.
She will always be remembered as one of our champions. We walk in her footsteps.
When Hannah Diggs Atkins was 44 years old, America
was a very turbulent land. Martin Luther King, Jr., had
just been assassinated. A war was raging in Vietnam.
Economic disparity gripped the nation, with large
numbers of people trapped in poverty. Women and
minorities were still struggling for equal rights -- even
after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Hannah's friends and neighbors persuaded her to
run for election to the State Legislature.
As a candidate, Hannah was not a fiery speaker.
A librarian in her professional life, she was bookish, and she loved the law. She loved education, too.
During her lifetime, she earned college degrees from three universities, and she studied law at Oklahoma
City University. But, she wasn't arrogant.
The voters recognized her commitment to defending the dignity of every person. They saw that she had an
engaging personality, a brilliant mind, and a deep interest in the needs of her community. She was a solid
communicator, and the voters of District 97 sensed that she was honest -- the real deal.
In November of 1968, Hannah became the first black woman elected to
serve in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives. It was the
beginning of a dynamic career of public service to the state of
Oklahoma, the nation, and the world.
In the legislature, Ms. Atkins served side-by-side with other progressives who, like herself, were determined
to move Oklahoma forward. Inevitably, though, there were also quite a few politicians who resisted the winds
of change that were blowing across America. They were reactionaries. Some of them were former
Klansmen. Many of them simply failed to understand the new challenges and the new opportunities that
were facing our state.
During her years in the legislature -- from 1969 to 1980 -- Hannah fought for health care, child welfare,
mental health reform and civil rights. She gained the respect of her peers. They saw her commitment to
honesty and her dedication to public service.
Henry Bellmon was one of Hannah's many admirers. Though they were of different political parties, Bellmon
respected Ms. Atkins' abilities. In 1983, when Bellmon was head of Oklahoma's Department of Human
Services, he selected Hannah to serve as his Assistant Director. Her responsibilities included the Division of
Aging.
Later, after Bellmon's election to a second term as Governor of Oklahoma in 1986,
he appointed Hannah to his Cabinet as Secretary for Social Services. In Sept-
ember, 1987, Hannah added Secretary of State to her duties, and she served in
dual roles in the Cabinet. She was the highest ranking woman in Oklahoma state
government until her retirement in 1991.
Her accomplishments at the state level gained the attention of President Jimmy
Carter. In 1980, he invited Hannah to join the United States delegation to the 35th
session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. She was a member of the
Third Committee which concentrated on social and economic issues. Additionally,
from 1979 to 1982, Ms. Atkins served as a representative to UNESCO -- the United
Nations Educational, scientific, and Cultural Organization.
Hannah's appointment to represent America in the United Nations was a momentous occasion -- one which
influenced the rest of her life. While at the UN, Hannah developed a deeper appreciation for the
international organization whose purpose and mission had long appealed to her. Even after her public
career ended in 1991, Hannah dedicated many of her retirement years in service to the United Nations
Association of the USA.
In the UN, Hannah saw an organization which has the capacity to
promote the causes she believed in -- human rights, health care,
child welfare, and so on -- on a global scale.
When I first met Hannah Atkins, I had just been elected to the board of
directors of our local chapter of the UN Association. It was around the turn
of the millennium. Hannah was a leader of the chapter, and she clearly
enjoyed her friendship with the members of our group. She participated in national meetings of UNA-USA,
representing our little chapter in Oklahoma City. Though we supported Hannah's travel with a small stipend
from our modest chapter treasury, she bore a good part of the cost from her own purse. That was a
measure of her dedication to the goals of UNA-USA.
I'm convinced that Hannah chose to support the UNA-USA because she believed strongly in the high
principles of the United Nations' Charter. She supported U.S. participation in the UN, and she was
determined to promote a greater public appreciation for the indispensible organization.
Too soon, Hannah retired from her community activities. Advancing years and declining energy levels
convinced her to move to Maryland, where she could be closer to her daughter. Even so, her contributions
to our chapter have not been forgotten.
Our Oklahoma City chapter of the United Nations Association has never been a large organization.
Throughout most of my tenure with the chapter, we have had to contend with elements in our community
who actively oppose the UN -- who have lobbied Congress to withdraw from it. We have a pitifully small
group of dues-paying members who support our chapter activities.
But, one thing we have never lacked is people in leadership positions who are smart, capable, and
dedicated to human rights, global health, international cooperation, equitable development, and the spread
of democracy.
As much as anyone, Hannah Atkins exemplifies the best attributes of our Oklahoma City chapter of the
United Nations Association.
She will always be remembered as one of our champions. We walk in her footsteps.
The voters recognized her commitment to defending the dignity of every person. They
saw that she had an engaging personality, a brilliant mind, and a deep interest in the
needs of her community. She was a solid communicator, and the voters of District 97
sensed that she was honest -- the real deal.
In November of 1968, Hannah became the first black woman elected to serve
in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives. It was the beginning of a
dynamic career of public service to the state of Oklahoma, the nation, and the world.
saw that she had an engaging personality, a brilliant mind, and a deep interest in the
needs of her community. She was a solid communicator, and the voters of District 97
sensed that she was honest -- the real deal.
In November of 1968, Hannah became the first black woman elected to serve
in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives. It was the beginning of a
dynamic career of public service to the state of Oklahoma, the nation, and the world.
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