We all know the story of Rosa Parks, right? In December of 1955, Rosa Parks was tired from a long day at work and refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. She was then arrested for not giving up her seat but her heroic actions led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. And you may know the story of the African American high school students who sat in a ‘whites only’ restaurant and refused to leave until they were served. But, does the name David Isom ring a bell by any chance?

David Isom is not a name that’s commonly taught in schools, but his actions were definitely just as heroic as Rosa Parks and those high school students. On June 8, 1958, David Isom, at 19 years old, crossed the color line in a segregated pool in Florida. As we all know, the 1950s was not a good time period for people of color. Segregation was nearly everywhere in the United States during the 1950s, but segregation specifically prevailed in the South, including Florida. And on June 8th, an interesting moment in history unfolded.

The Spa Pool opened in 1955 near the Spa Beach. Both the pool and the beach were reserved for white people only. The facility that the African Americans had to use was in Tampa Bay. It was called the ‘South Mole’. As it was a blacks only beach, it was littered with trash and the bathing facility was very small.

On June 8, 1955, David Isom broke the color line and swam in the Spa Pool. David Isom then later on said that swimming in a clean pool is “…not a privilege, just a right.” Additionally, the cashier that sold Isom the ticket to swim in the pool said she was ordered to treat Isom like “any other citizen.” When Isom entered the establishment, there were about 45 other white people that were already present at the pool. Isom said that he paid little attention to them as they did to him. Tommy Chinnis, the lifeguard on duty, said that he “was like everyone else.”

However, later that day, John Gough, the pool’s manager, put a ‘closed’ sign on the entrance. Gough said that he was acting on Ross Windom’s, the city manager’s, orders. Windom had told him to close the facilities because “a n**** had used the facilities.” So eventually, the Spa Pool and the Spa Beach did shut down. But, the city council did reopen the facilities in 1959. The new city manager George K. Armes declared that they were to be kept open unless there was trouble.

So when segregation was at its peak, a brave young gentleman named David Isom broke the color line. He went to a pool that was for ‘whites only,’ bought himself a ticket, and swam in the whites only pool. Back during those times, the only reaction an African American could safely assume they’ll get from breaking the rules is a negative one. However, when Isom walked into the facility, it is said that the white citizens had no negative reactions. Up until the city manager closed down the facilities, there was no negative outcome from Isom’s actions. Isom stood up for what he believed was right and he doesn’t get enough recognition for it.

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In 1958, David Isom, a 19 year old broke the colour line in a segregated pool in Florida. Isom said he was treated like “any other citizen” at the pool. However Officials closed the pool shortly after he left “because a n**** has used the facilities”.