People you don't know....

and why you don't know them.



Do you know who this woman is? She immigrated to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago as a child and after high school graduation joined the US Navy where she was an Aviation Machinist Mate (Jet Mechanic). She was selected for Enlisted Commissioning Program, becoming an Aviation Maintenance Officer in 1985. She retired from the Navy in 1999 as a Lieutenant Commander. During her Military career she received the following awards- Meritorious Service Medal; two Navy Commendation Medals; two Navy Achievement Medals; National Defense Service Medal; Overseas Ribbon; two Coast Guard Special Operation Ribbons; Expert Pistol

While serving in the Navy she received three degrees Including a BA in political Science from New Mexico State and a Master of Business Administration degree from St. Leo University. She is a life long member of both the NAACP and the NRA. She has three children including one who was drafted and now plays for the Miami Dolphins.

That in itself is a fairly impressive resume and one that should be held up as a roll model for not only women but African Americans. But her life's story is even more compelling, yet few outside of her home state have ever heard of her. Why?

She is Jennifer Carroll and beyond the accomplishments above she was:

Elected to the Florida House May 13, 2003, reelected subsequently
First Black Female Republican elected to the Florida Legislature

Appointed Deputy Majority Leader by Speaker Johnnie Byrd 2003-2004

Majority Whip 2004-2006

Appointed by President George W. Bush to "The White House Presidential Scholars Commission" 2001-2004

Appointed by President George W. Bush to the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, 2004-2007

This is just a small sampling of her awards and accomplishments since retiring form the Navy....but there is more.

Jennifer Carroll is the highest elected woman and the highest elected African American in Florida history and on January 4, 2011 she will be sworn in as Florida's Lieutenant Governor.

As Paul Harvey would say....

Now you know the rest of the story.

People you don't know....

....and why you don't know them.

Do you know who this woman is? NO ! Let me give you some hints from her Wikepedia entry

• .She was a doctor
•  She was the first African American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School, in 1951
•  She was the first woman in the Boston Surgical Society
•  She was the first woman to be a surgical intern at the Boston City Hospital
•  She was the first woman to receive the Lantern Award for Patriotism
•  She also received 28 honorary degrees

Still don't know her? Don't have a clue. A woman with a tremendous biography of achievements who was not only a pathfinder for woman but an African Americans Women. Wouldn't you think she would have been raised up by the media and the African American mainstream as a roll model and an example?

OK I'll tell you who she is. She is Mildred Fay Jefferson and she passed away Friday at the age of 84. Why had you and most people probably never heard of her? As Paul Harvey would say, "Now the rest of the story".

In spite of all of these accomplishments, however, she was probably best known for her support of the right-to-life movement. Moreover, she was probably one of the most, if not the most convicted pro-life activist of her time, unrelentingly devoting her time, energy, and resources to her cause. In fact, she explicitly stated she prefers the term "pro-life" to "anti-abortionist." She helped found the National Right to Life Committee and served three terms as its president. She was a member of Black Americans for Life and lived in Boston, leading the Right to Life Crusade for the last 33 years. She is held in high esteem by Feminists for Life and other pro-life feminists. Dr. Jefferson served on the Board of Directors of more than 30 pro-life organizations. She unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in Massachusetts.[1] She expressed her concern about what she believes are hypocritical policies towards minorities and the poor in the Democratic Party.

Now you know why most of you and the general public at large never heard of this dynamic and wonderful woman, may she rest in peace.