Eula Johnson
Eula Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Eula Mae Gandy Johnson |
| Occupation | activist |
| Known for | Fort Lauderdale NAACP leader |
| Honors | Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park |
Eula Mae Gandy Johnson[1] (1906–2001) was an American activist in the civil rights movement. She is known for her work to end Jim Crow segregation in public beaches, schools, restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[2] She was considered by many to be the "Rosa Parks of Fort Lauderdale."[3][4]
Advocacy
[edit]In 1959, she became the first woman president of the Fort Lauderdale NAACP.[5] In her capacity as president, she filed several lawsuits against public schools to seek equality for black students, as well as fought against separation in public spaces like drive-in theaters.[6] Part of her activism work resulted in the end of segregation at Broward County beaches. Johnson, along with Dr. Von D. Mizell and several NAACP members, organized "wade-ins" at the white only beaches in 1961. The city of Fort Lauderdale sued Johnson for being a public nuisance.[7] After a judge refused the city's request to put a halt to the wade-ins, Broward County beaches became desegregated in 1962.[8]
Legacy
[edit]Johnson died in January 2001 at the age of 94.[1]
In 2011, her house, at 1100 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, became Fort Lauderdale/Broward Branch NAACP headquarters as well as a museum and welcome center for the historic Sistrunk Corridor.[9]
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Hollywood, Florida is named after her and fellow civil rights activist Dr. Von Mizell.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Toni Marshall; Gregory Lewis (February 20, 2004). "Blazing a path". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ Spencer, DeShuna (Summer 2008). "Fort Lauderdale NAACP Opens Museum to Honor Civil Rights Activist". The Crisis. 115 (3): 49. ProQuest 199794059.
- ^ Roby, Cynthia (2012). "Eula Johnson arrived, Jim Crow had to go". South Florida Times.
- ^ Wyman, Scott (March 9, 2011). "Lauderdalte honors rights trailblazer Sistrunk Blvd. home of Eula Johnson will become museum". South Florida Sun - Sentinel.
- ^ Beatty, Robert (2012-01-16). "Eula Johnson arrived, Jim Crow had to go". South Florida Times. Archived from the original on 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ Nolin, Robert (June 11, 2015). "2 black activists fought to end segregation". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ Wyman, Scott (16 Mar 2011). "Fort Lauderdale honors civil rights pioneer". Miami Times.
- ^ Beatty, Robert (February 12, 2009). "Broward county to commemorate "the colored beach"". South Florida Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ Beatty, Robert (July 7, 2011). "Home of Civil Rights Pioneere Dedicated as a Museum". SouthFlorida Times. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ Sweeney, Anne; Geggis, Dan (7 April 2016). "John U. Lloyd State Park renamed for civil rights activists". Sun-Sentinel.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-01. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
Further reading
[edit]- Beatty, Robert (April 10, 2008). "Wade in the Water". South Florida Times. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019.