Keith Jemison Receives Humanitarian of the Year Award; Mayor Bynum Proclaims December 11 as World Human Rights Day in Tulsa

12/12/2023

Today, the City of Tulsa and the Human Rights Commission hosted the second annual Humanitarian of the Year (HotY) Award at Tulsa City Hall.

The award celebrates Tulsans who have gone above and beyond in humanitarian work.

This year’s recipient, Keith Jemison, is the longtime manager of the Rudisill Regional Library and founder of the African American Resource Center. Jemison is also the north regional manager for the Tulsa City-County Library (TCCL), overseeing branch library operations at Suburban Acres, Judy Z. Kishner, Skiatook, Collinsville, and Kendall-Whittier locations.

Jemison, who recently celebrated 50 years with TCCL, also founded the African-American Resource Center (AARC), with a purpose to collect, preserve and provide access to resources honoring and documenting the experiences of people of African descent. The AARC is located at Rudisill Library.

"I am incredibly grateful for the Human Rights Commission and what it represents, and this yearly award is another great way we are recognizing the amazing work being done by passionate residents in our community," Mayor G.T. Bynum said.

The HotY Award is presented each December in recognition of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948, which is observed globally each December 10 as Human Rights Day.

During the celebration, Mayor G.T. Bynum presented a Proclamation at the event recognizing December 11 as “World Human Rights” Day in the City of Tulsa.