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Clara Mae Luper is Born
She was born in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, to Ezell and Isabell Shepard. -
Luper receives a bachelor's degree from Langston University
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Master's degree from the University of Oklahoma
Clara Luper was the first African American admitted to the graduate history program at the University of Oklahoma -
Clara Luper's work as a teacher and advisor
Clara Luper worked as a teacher at segregated Dunjee Negro High School in Spencer, Oklahoma. She taught history at public relations. She was also an advisor to Oklahoma City's NAACP Youth Council. She wrote, directed, and produced a play based on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. called "Brother President." The play was performed at the NAACP convention in New York.
Below is the link to the first part of the play when it was later recorded.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqJD-S9DFJY -
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Continued Sit-Ins and Boycotts
After their success, the Youth Council and Clara Luper wanted to expand their efforts and called for greater impact by boycotting more themselves as well as calling on others to do the same. Stores including Veazey's Drugs, Green's Variety Stores, and S.H. Kress Outlet began to serve everyone through their efforts. -
Katz Drugstore Sit-In
The NAACP Youth Council decided to stage a sit-in at Katz Drugstore. Under Luper's guidance, the youth took their seats at the lunch counter and ordered Cokes. After long hours of enduring protest, they left when the lunch counter closed for the night. This sit-in occurred a year and a half before the February 1, 1960, Greensboro, North Carolina, sit-ins. It was the first sit-in of the civil rights movement. -
Katz Announces New Non-Segregating Policy
The next day, the Youth Council protesters returned and Luper returned to the lunch counter. Katz served them burgers and Cokes in addition to announcing that they would no longer be segregated. "All of my life, I had wanted to sit at those counters and drink a Coke or a Seven-Up. We were all seated now in the 'for whites only territory.' Within that hamburger was the whole essence of democracy" — Clara Luper -
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Clara Luper Hosts a Radio Talkshow
During this span, she hosted "The Clara Luper Show," with her son. They would often discuss about the civil rights and the instrumental people involved. -
An Adamant "White's Only" Store Desegregates
John A. Brown's, a prestigious department store had refused to budge on desegregating. However, during this year, his wife (who ran the store after he died), decided to meet with Clara Luper. She said "Take this message back to the children. Segregation will end at John A. Brown's"
Photo
Members of the Oklahoma City National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Youth Council, under the direction of Clara Luper, sit in at the main John A. Brown Department Store location lunch counter -
Participated in the March On Washington
She took part in the 1963 March on Washington where Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. -
Oklahoma City Council Gives Ordinance to End Racial Discrimination
By mid-1964, more than 100 "whites-only" eating facilities in Oklahoma had been desegregated due to Luper's influence on African American protesters. The Oklahoma City Council responded with an anti-segregation ordinance, ending racial discrimination shortly before the national 1964 Civil Rights Act. -
Participation in the Selma to Montgomery Marches
She took part in the Selma-to-Montgomery marches where she received a deep cut in her leg on "Bloody Sunday," when 600 civil rights marchers were attacked by state and local police with tear gas and billy clubs. The photo was taken on that Sunday. -
Luper's Continued Efforts For Integration
Still teaching, Luper fought for the integration of Oklahoma City Schools and organized the Oklahoma City Sanitation Strike. The strikers demanded that they be allowed to be drivers and supervisors as well as increased pay. The strike was organized in the Freedom Center in northeast Oklahoma City by workers, Clara Luper, local pastors, and other activists. -
Clara Luper is a Candidate for the U.S. Senate
When asked by the press if she, a black woman, could represent white people, she responded: “Of course, I can represent white people, black people, red people, yellow people, brown people, and polka dot people. You see, I have lived long enough to know that people are people.” - Clara Luper -
Clara Luper Published Her Memoir
Clara Luper published her memoir "Behold the Walls." It is an acclaimed first-hand account of the campaign for civil rights in Oklahoma City during the 1960s.
Luper's students were so influenced by her civil rights success that they strived against segregation themselves. One of her students was the first African American chief of police in Oklahoma City. Another said she was the reason he went to become a US Army Colonel. -
Honored by the State
She became known as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement" and was honored by the state with the Clara Luper Corridor, a multimillion-dollar two mile streetscape project announced by then Gov. Brad Henry connecting the Oklahoma State Capitol complex with the historically African-American area of Northeast Oklahoma City, began construction in 2005. It was named to commemorate her civil rights legacy. -
A Conversation With Clara Luper
Below is a link to an interview with Clara Luper who remembers her days working in the Civil Rights Movement. It aired on 01/18/2009 https://www.pbs.org/video/oetas-conversation-clara-luper/ -
Clara Luper Dies
Luper died of natural causes. She is survived by her three children, Calvin, Marilyn Luper Hildreth, and Chelle Marie. Clara Luper taught history for 41 years and was arrested 26 times for fighting for civil and human rights.