Joel Elvin Atkins (d. October 5 1997) was the Senior Pastor of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church for 42 years until his death in 1997. He was a church leader and local president of the Winter Haven, Florida chapter of the NAACP[1][2] before becoming the NAACP's statewide leader.[3] He was an organizer on integration and civil rights efforts in the state.
Personal life
editTheodosia Sarah Owens Atkins was his wife of 50 years.[4] His longtime friendship with Jack Young led to his involvement in advocating on behalf of James Joseph Richardson.[5]
He died in Miami on Sunday the October 5, 1997, at the age of 75.[6] He left behind his wife and four children.[6]
Activism
editJoel Elvin Atkins was president of a local chapter of the NAACP in Winter Haven, Florida He became president of the state chapter and challenged Florida governor Claude Kirk's obstruction and delay attempts of school busing.[3][7] He advocated for social action over confrontations at rallies as the solution to ongoing troubles in 1967.[8] In 1970, he highlighted concerns that for most instances of death by law enforcement officers the victims were black.[9]
He was photographed with Tal Rutledge and Rev. Omega F. Neaman at an NAACP convention.[10]
References
edit- ^ "21 May 1967, 119 – Tampa Bay Times – "The Stubborn Little President"". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Sarasota Herald Tribune Archives, Jun 11, 1967, p. 60 – "Negroes May Go To Streets In Florida This Summer"". NewspaperArchive.com. 11 June 1967. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ a b McMullenthe, Cary (6 February 2011). "Civil Rights in Polk: Brave Stands Led to Big Changes". The Ledger.
- ^ Kelly, Donna (14 February 2011). "Black trailblazers in spotlight Tuesday". News Chief.
- ^ Radelet, Michael L.; Bedau, Hugo Adam; Putnam, Constance E. (May 17, 1994). In Spite of Innocence: Erroneous Convictions in Capital Cases. UPNE. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-55553-197-3 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "9 Oct 1997, 38 – The Tampa Tribune – Obituary Joel E. Atkins". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Sanders, Randy (October 1, 2007). Mighty Peculiar Elections: The New South Gubernatorial Campaigns of 1970 and the Changing Politics of Race. LSU Press. ISBN 978-0-8071-3290-6 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Sarasota Herald Tribune Archives, Aug 13, 1967, p. 2". NewspaperArchive.com. 13 August 1967. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Fort Walton Beach Playground Sunday News Archives, Jan 18, 1970, p. 1". NewspaperArchive.com. 18 January 1970.
- ^ "Clearwater civil rights icon Tal Rutledge: 'He wasn't afraid to speak out.'". Archived from the original on July 27, 2020.
Further reading
edit- Scanlon, Gina (17 January 2010). "Martin Luther King Jr. Day offers community chance to reflect". The Ledger. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- "Cool Summer Out, Says State NAACP President". The Tampa Tribune. 5 April 1968. p. 10. Retrieved 5 June 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Candidate's Racial Views Are Valuable". The Florida Star. Vol. 18, no. 1. 27 April 1968. Retrieved 5 June 2020 – via ufdc.ufl.edu.
- "Kirk says he's not using busing issue to 'make hay'" (PDF). Boca Raton News. Vol. 15, no. 48. Tallahassee, FL. United Press International. 12 February 1970. p. 5A. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- "Kirk Ordered To Court Following School Dispute". The Kentucky Kernel. Vol. LXI, no. 120. Bradenton, FL. AP. 7 April 1970. p. 5. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- Sanders, Donald Randy (1998). The New South Gubernatorial Campaigns of 1970 and the Changing Politics of Race (PDF). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses (Thesis). LSU Digital Commons. pp. 158–159, 175. Retrieved 5 June 2020.