Today, March 8th, 2022, is International Women’s Day – a day when we pause to celebrate and remember the achievements of women and girls across the globe. The theme for this year is Break the Bias. We recognize that according to the United Nations, women make up more than two-thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate people and only 39 percent of girls living in rural areas attend secondary school. In lifting up Shaw University alumna, the Honorable Angie Elizabeth Brooks, class of 1949, we see exemplified by her achievements what it truly means to “Break the Bias.”
Born in Virginia, Liberia as one of nine children, Angie Brooks knew what it meant to work hard to achieve her goals despite being female. Though born into a society that discouraged young girls from becoming well educated she was encouraged to further her education. Ms. Brooks left her home country to come to the United States to study at Shaw University earning a BA in social science. Despite an early marriage and subsequent divorce and as a mother of two, Ms. Brooks continued her pursuit of higher education earning both a law degree and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin.
Over the course of her career Ms. Brooks served as counsellor-at-law to the Supreme Court of Liberia; as assistant attorney general of Liberia; vice-president and later president of the International Federation of Women Lawyers; professor of law at Liberia University and as vice-president of the National Liberian Political and Social Movement.
Especially relevant to International Women’s Day, Ms. Brooks was Liberia’s delegate to the United Nations General Assembly for many years and notably became the first African woman – and second woman ever – to be elected president of the General Assembly, where she presided over the 24th session (1969-1970).
The Honorable Angie Elisabeth Brooks died September 9, 2007 in Houston, Texas.
Learn more about Ms. Brooks at the following link on Shaw U’s website
