Little Known Facts

In educating our members, supporters & community, the Middlesex Branch of the NAACP #7091 wishes to share these "Little Known Facts about our History. We will be updating the facts page bi-weekly, so please share with others to educate each other.

Robert "Whirlwind" Johnson

Considered the Godfather of Black Tennis. A Lynchburg, VA physician was a Tennis Master who taught black tennis champions.

Albert Jackson

May 17, 1882, he became the first Black Postman in Toronto, Canada. In 1858, the runaway slave fought through the Underground Railroad and through the racist Southern Lands to Canada. He, his mother & sibling was aided by William Still.

Shirley Chisholm

In 1968, she became the United States First African-American Congresswoman. In 1969, she became one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Tice Davids (not pictured)

A runaway slave from Kentucky as the inspiration for the first usage of the term "Underground Railroad". According to reports, after Davids swam across the Ohio River, his owner was unable to find him. He told the local paper that if Davids had escaped, he must have traveled on an "Underground Railroad". He is thought to have made it to Ripley, Ohio.