The Late Dame Doris Johnson: Bahamian Role Model

The late Maya Angelou once said and I quote “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it” End quote. This quote describes clearly what kind of women the late Dame Doris Johnson was. A true giant of women filled with intelligence, courage, and ambition that was known for her fearless and outspoken opinions about women’s rights in The Bahamas. A woman filled of grace and bravery who was an important, inspiring Bahamian role model to all. She was an individual who strived and committed to achieving her goals against the odds, teacher, suffragette, and politician all came under Doris Johnson belt. In January 1959, Doris Johnson spoke an unforgettable and pivotal speech to the Members of the House of Assembly

Agnes, New Providence, and The Bahamas. Her passion for teaching began at the age of fifteen after her completion of secondary school. At the age of twenty two she married her soul mate Ratal Allen Johnson on the third of January, 1943 at Zion Baptist Church in Nassau this lovely couple had only one son together. After marriage and becoming a mother Dame Doris Johnson decided to further her education in 1953 where she enrolled at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education. After completing her degree in Virginia, Dame Johnson returned back to Nassau, Bahamas where she joined the Progressive Liberal Party in 1956 where she was given the opportunity to get her master’s degree in educational administration on a four year government scholarship. At MacDonald College of Education of McGill University and Ontario College of Education at the University of Toronto Dame Doris Johnson achieved her master’s and doctorate