Eula Johnson
American civil rights activist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
Eula Johnson | |
|---|---|
Johnson (right) with Bayard Rustin and Richard Pryor in 1977 | |
| Born | Eula Mae Gandy Johnson |
| Occupation | activist |
| Known for | Fort Lauderdale NAACP leader |
| Honors | Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park |
Advocacy
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
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]