Angie Brooks

Angie Elizabeth Brooks^[1] (August 24, 1928 – September 9, 2007) was a Liberian diplomat and jurist. She is notable for being the only African female President of the United Nations General Assembly.^[2] She was also the second woman from any nation to head the U.N.^[3]

In 1954 she became Liberia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations,^[2] where much of her work involved the transformation of former colonial states into independent countries.^[4] In 1969, she was chosen as the President of the General Assembly and took office in 1970.

She also served as Assistant Secretary of State of Liberia.^[2][4] Her tenure as Permanent Representative ended in 1977, when she was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia. Nominated by President Tolbert on 4 May and taking office two days later, she was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Liberia.^[5]

Biography

The daughter of a Baptist minister and one of nine children, Brooks was raised by a widowed seamstress.^[4] After a teenage marriage and divorce^[4] to Richard A. Henries (who later became Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives), she decided to seek a higher education. Brooks partially financed her studies by working as a dishwasher, laundress, a library assistant, and nurse's aide.^[4] In 1949, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.^[2] Three years later, she got a Bachelor of Law degree and a Master of Science degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.^[2] Brooks earned Doctor of Law degrees, from Shaw University and Howard University in 1962 and 1967 respectively.^[2] She also did graduate work in international law at the University College Law School of the University of London in 1952 and 1953,^[2][4] and obtained a Doctor of Civil Law degree from the University of Liberia in 1964.^[2]

Brooks previously served as Counsellor-at-law to the Supreme Court of Liberia in August 1953, and as Assistant Attorney-General of Liberia from August 1953 to March 1958.^[2] She was also a part-time Professor of Law at University of Liberia from 1954 to 1958.^[2]

Brooks was a member of the Eta Beta Omega international chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.^[6]

Angie Brooks had two biological sons, Richard A. Henries II and Wynston Henries. In addition, she was also a foster mother.^[4] After her divorce from Richard A. Henries I, she later married Isaac M Randolph.

She died on September 9, 2007 in Houston, Texas, USA.^[7] Brooks received a state funeral in Liberia and was buried in her birthplace of Virginia in Montserrado County.^[8]

References