Joyce Sumbi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joyce Sumbi
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| Born |
Joyce Annette Madkins
October 23, 1935 Oklahoma, US
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| Died | July 17, 2010 (aged 74) Los Angeles, California, US
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Librarian |
| Employer | LA County Library |
| Known for | President, California Librarians Black Caucus |
Joyce Annette Madkins Sumbi (born October 23, 1935 – died July 17, 2010) was an important American librarian. She made history by becoming the first African-American administrator in the LA County Library system.
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Early Life and Education
Joyce Annette Madkins was born in Oklahoma. She grew up in Merced, California. Her parents were Raymond Madkins Sr. and Pearl Lofton Madkins. Her mother worked as a nurse.
Joyce first trained to be a teacher at Fresno State University. Later, in 1960, she earned a master's degree in library science from the University of Southern California. This degree helped her become a librarian.
Career as a Librarian
Sumbi started her career as an elementary school teacher in San Diego. She soon decided to change her path. She moved to Los Angeles and joined the LA County Library system. She worked there for 32 years until she retired.
Joyce Sumbi became the first African-American administrator in the county library system. She believed she was also the first African-American librarian to serve the public in a Los Angeles County community library. Other African-American librarians worked behind the scenes, but she was out front helping people.
Fighting for Fairness
In 1971, Joyce Sumbi and five other Black colleagues spoke up. They said the county library system was unfair to minority groups. This included how jobs were given out and how people were promoted. At that time, out of 242 librarians, only 13 were Black and 4 were Hispanic.
Because of this, Sumbi helped start the California Librarians Black Caucus in 1972. This group worked to support Black librarians.
Community Involvement
In 1973, Sumbi worked as the Audio-Visual Librarian at the Los Cerritos branch. She was a leader in the Our Authors Study Club. This group worked to share Black history and culture in Los Angeles.
She also helped with the Way Out Project. This project brought cultural programs to libraries in Chicano and African-American communities in Los Angeles. Librarian Elizabeth Martinez said Sumbi helped guide their work with her calm and realistic approach.
Awards and Recognition
Joyce Sumbi received many honors for her work. In 1994, Turning Point magazine named her a Living History Maker. She also won the Phyllis Wheatley Award from International Black Writers and Artists.
In 2003, she received a President Award from the USC Alumni Association. This was for serving on the board of directors of the university's Black Alumni Association since it began in 1976. She also received recognition from the American Library Association, the YWCA of Great Los Angeles, and the Mayor's office. In 2008, she shared her life story in an interview for the UCLA Center for Oral History Research.
Personal Life
Joyce Sumbi had three sons named David, Paul, and James. She passed away in 2010 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 75 years old.
Today, the California Librarians Black Caucus gives out the Joyce Madkins Sumbi Emerging Leaders Award. This award is given at the Leimert Park Book Fair. Joyce Sumbi helped create this book fair, which celebrates reading and community.
