Dorothy “Dot” Inman Johnson stands in her living room, holding two of her published books. (Justin Jordan/FAMUAN)
“I have always been a passionate advocate and champion for those who need it,” said Dorothy “Dot” Inman Johnson, the first Black woman to become Mayor of Tallahassee.
Inman Johnson boasts a storied political career in Tallahassee, marked by her many accomplishments, including the divestment of Tallahassee retirement accounts from businesses based in apartheid South Africa, the development of Kleman Plaza and the restoration of the once-neglected Greenwood Cemetery.
Although Inman Johnson has called Tallahassee home for over 50 years, she was born in Birmingham, Alabama, amid segregation. To her, the horrors of segregation were not painted in black and white photos or history books, but in her lived reality.
Inman Johnson recalled learning about the murder of Emmett Till vividly and seeing horrific images of his body at the age of eight.
“I remember my mom and some of her friends passing around this Jet Magazine … And I couldn’t quite figure out what they were talking about,” Inman Johnson said. “So later on, when they put the Jet Magazine down, and I could have access to it, I went and picked it up… And it traumatized me for years after seeing that picture.”
Despite the daily horrors her family endured, they actively participated in the Civil Rights Movement. Inman Johnson’s mother organized carpools for organizers, and she and other family members would actively participate in marches and rallies against segregation.
The protests were often met with firm and violent resistance.
“I had a sister who was two and a half years younger than I [was], who was beaten and had her ribs fractured and [was] taken downtown,” Inman Johnson said.
A significant turning point in the movement was when the Ku Klux Klan bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing 4 young girls and injuring over a dozen.
“That was meant to put us in our place,” Inman Johnson Said, “But after the bombing, we kept protesting just like the people in Minneapolis.”
Four of Dorothy “Dot” Inman Johnson’s books lie on her living room table. (Justin Jordan/FAMUAN)
Inman Johnson described how the shocking act of violence led a wave of Northerners to migrate south, joining the protesters and shoring up public support for Civil Rights, culminating in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965.
After graduating from high school, Inman Johnson attended Clark Atlanta University on a full scholarship. When she returned home, she volunteered to help Black residents register to vote. Inman Johnson would eventually become a teacher, dedicated to helping children learn and grow.
During her 28 years of teaching, Inman Johnson placed special emphasis on caring for students living in poverty, making many of them her godchildren.
“We brought them into our homes [for] Sunday Dinner [and] did all the special things we did as a family,” Inman Johnson explained.
It was her career in education and involvement in teachers’ unions that led her into politics when fellow teachers encouraged her to run.
“I had built a pretty strong base out there of people, Black and white, who knew of the hard work I had done … so I was able to be successful in winning a seat on the city commission as the first Black female elected,” Inman Johnson said.
Inman Johnson would eventually serve as mayor, making her the first Black woman to do so in Tallahassee’s history. During her years at City Hall, she took part in numerous projects, including efforts to reduce utility bills for residents, a program to build sidewalks in neighborhoods where pedestrian safety was a concern, and countless others.
“I’m very proud of all my time in Tallahassee since 1971 because I have always worked hard for the people,” Inman Johnson said.
When asked what she would say to younger generations who have lost hope in the current political climate, Inman Johnson said, “You have to have courage, and you don’t win by giving up. You win by fighting the battle. You have to fight for the right. For justice.”