Jumbo Mug, 11oz 15oz More Than a Postmaster – Minnie Cox, A Trailblazer”

Minnie M. Cox (1869–1933) was a trailblazing postmaster, entrepreneur, and advocate for Black economic empowerment. She was the first Black postmaster in Mississippi, appointed under President Benjamin Harrison in 1891.

Key Moments in Her Legacy

• Postmaster of Indianola, Mississippi – Cox was reappointed under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, serving until 1904.
• Facing Racism & Political Pressure – White citizens of Indianola demanded her resignation in 1902, but President Roosevelt refused to remove her. Instead, he shut down the post office rather than replace her.
• Economic Empowerment – After leaving her post, Cox and her husband founded the Delta Penny Savings Bank, one of the earliest Black-owned banks in Mississippi, and the Mississippi Life Insurance Company, offering whole life insurance to Black citizens.
• Commitment to Community – She personally covered late rent on post office boxes and installed a telephone at her own expense so patrons could check their mail.

Her story is one of resilience, leadership, and economic independence,