Black Arizonans' votes were thrown out in the 1950s. Then Annie Watkins stepped in
Hidden from the spotlight of northern Arizona leaders is Annie Watkins, an instrumental woman who helped advance politics and education for Flagstaff during the 1950s.
Watkins had dreamed of becoming a schoolteacher, so she left Louisiana to pursue an education in Arizona. However, her career took a detour, and she found herself involved in voter registration drives for the local Black community. She was a vital resource for Flagstaff residents living in the largest voting precinct at the time and taught Black voters how to fill out their ballots correctly.
Watkins also helped launch the Flagstaff chapter of the NAACP and aided the integration of multiple local institutions. Before the Civil Rights Movement, she was a trailblazer for the Black community and has since been recognized at Northern Arizona University and at museums.
Arizona HERstory on Valley 101: Meet Ayra Hackett, community leader and Black publisher
In light of upcoming local elections, this week's episode of Valley101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, shines a light on Annie Watkins and the role she played in Flagstaff politics and education — even if it was all due to the repeal of a job offer.
Watkins is part of a larger monthlong series by Valley101, Arizona HERstory, in which local underrepresented women in Arizona history will be discussed and honored.
The episode also includes audio from an oral history interview with Annie Watkins that belongs to Northern Arizona University. The whole interview can be found below.
“Oral history interview with Annie Watkins, (part 2), April 30, 2007.”, NAU.OH.97.68.47B. Los Recuerdos del Barrio en Flagstaff Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Cline Library, Northern Arizona University.
For more stories that matter, subscribe to azcentral.com.
Listen to the episode:
Listen to Valley 101 on your favorite podcast app or stream the full episode below.
Listen to Valley 101 : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher
Click here to submit questions you have about metro Phoenix for a chance to be chosen for the podcast.
Note: Valley 101 is intended to be heard, but we offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
Follow Valley 101 and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter and on Instagram.
Reach the reporter at katrina.michalak@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @kat_m67
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Annie Watkins empowered Black voters, launched Flagstaff NAACP chapter
