This Iowa county used to be named for a slave-holding former vice president. Now, it's named after a Black academic
CNN
A county in Iowa was named after a slave-holding vice president. Now, it's named after Lulu Merle Johnson, the first Black woman to earn a PhD from the University of Iowa.
The Board of Supervisors of Johnson County in Iowa, home to Iowa City and the state university, voted unanimously on Thursday to recognize Lulu Merle Johnson as the official eponym of the county, rather than Richard Mentor Johnson. "Today was touching and I am so happy," said Royceann Porter, the board's vice chairperson, in a statement. "It was amazing to include Lulu Merle Johnson's family in the recognition. I look forward to taking students to Gravity for the annual civil rights trip so they can learn more about her legacy."
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