As a child Dr. Shirley Bailey Johnson was drawn to helping and empowering African Americans, and people of color.  At, the age of 10 Johnson was the secretary for the NAACP Jackson branch in Mississippi. Now as an adult, she is still drawn to helping those dealing with social inequality and injustice. With the experience, knowledge, and platform Johnson has garnered throughout her years; she now has the opportunity to make a bigger impact on the issues.

Following in her father’s footsteps, Johnson is the President and Education Chair of the NAACP Miami Dade branch. Her father Sam Bailey was a former president of the NAACP Jackson branch in Mississippi. As a child, her father instilled in her the value of understanding one’s right to be treated equally.




During the 1960s, when Johnson was a teenager she participated in several peaceful demonstrations in support of desegregation. Knowing the consequence of getting arrested following the protests, Johnson along with her sister still participated.

“We did a demonstration at the pool because of course you couldn’t get in the white pool. There was a beautiful one that was not too far from us, so we all dressed and had our bathing suits,” Johnson said. “As we were trying to get in, here comes the police officers [sic] ‘niggers; niggers; you cannot get in here; we don’t allow niggers here; we don’t like coloreds here [sic].’ “… they would call the police and the officers would say ‘you are trespassing and if you don’t get out of the way now, we will take you to jail’”.

Not satisfied with the treatment of her people and wanting to do more to help she attended college. Johnson attended Tougaloo College where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Teaching. Later, she attended Florida International University and obtained her Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She also received her Doctorate from the Union Institute & University.

Dedicating forty-two years of her life to the Miami Dade County Public Schools System, Johnson held several positions which consisted of her aiding the youth and MDCPS teachers.

Now as the president and education chair of the NAACP Miami Dade branch, Johnson continues the work she started at the age of 10. She uses her platform to bring awareness to the social inequality and injustices African Americans, and other minorities face.

While talking about college athletes and professional athletes, and the backlash they are receiving for using their platform to shed light on such issues Johnson says, “This is a free nation. We did not come here to be in bondage. Slavery is over and we were set free. So make sure you know that; and you stand for what you believe according to the rules and regulations of this nation.”