The inspiring legacy of Robert Clark: Remembering the trailblazing Black lawmaker
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In the lush green landscape of Mississippi, a state with a complex tapestry of civil rights history, the passing of Robert G. Clark at the age of 96 marks the end of an era.
Clark, a figure of resilience and change, was not only Mississippi's first Black lawmaker of the 20th century but also a symbol of progress in a time of deep-seated segregation and racial strife.
Born into a family with roots that reached back to the days of slavery, Clark's journey from the cotton fields of Holmes County to the halls of the state Capitol is a testament to the power of determination and the relentless pursuit of justice.
His life's work has left an indelible mark on the state's political landscape and serves as an inspiration to all who strive for equality and representation.
Robert Clark's story began in the rural heart of Mississippi, where he was born into a family of slaves.
His grandfather, William Clark, who had been born into slavery, imparted lessons of self-reliance and independence that would shape Robert's character and worldview. He would sit by the side of the field together with his grandfather as a small child.
“He had never owned a pair of pants or shoes until after slavery,” Robert Clark shared with The Associated Press in an interview. “Their feed was poured over to them in a trough just like we feed hogs, and they had to get down and eat the best way they could.”
“I’d throw a hand of corn over and the chickens would be eating. I’d throw another hand of corn over there, and chickens would leave that hand of corn and run to another hand,” Clark reminisced.
“And I asked him, ‘Grandpa, why them old crazy chickens got corn and just run to the other corn?’ He said, ‘Young man, they’re just following the crowd.’ And he said, ‘That’s something I never want you to do.‘
Clark's pursuit of education led him to Michigan, where he earned a master's degree, a remarkable achievement for a Black man from Mississippi during that era.
He returned home with a promise to uplift his community, starting as a teacher and coach, where he quickly recognized the need for adult education to empower parents and improve the lives of their children.
“I realized many of the parents could not help their children with the lessons,” Clark said. “And I went to the superintendent of education to ask him if he would implement an adult education program. And he told me, ‘No, I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the county to do that.’”
Clark's political career was born out of a refusal to accept the status quo. When his proposal for an adult education program was rejected by the all-white local school board, he announced his candidacy for the board, only to see the rules change to prevent his election.
Undeterred, Clark set his sights higher and ran for state representative, a decision that would lead him to make history.
In 1967, Clark was elected as the first Black lawmaker in Mississippi since Reconstruction, a monumental victory that came with its own set of challenges.
Source: Mississippi Public Broadcasting / Youtube.
Since Black people were largely excluded from Mississippi's Democratic Party, Clark's family was part of the Republican Party’s “Black and Tan” faction during his childhood. As political allegiances shifted in the late 1960s, he initially ran for a legislative seat as an independent. It was only later that he successfully ran as a Democrat.
On his inauguration day in January 1968, Clark was uncertain whether he would be permitted to take his oath.
The white candidate he had defeated had challenged his eligibility, alleging that he was not a resident of Holmes County, despite his family's long-standing presence there.
His early days at the Capitol were marked by isolation and exclusion, as he was relegated to sitting alone and ignored by his white colleagues.
The isolation extended to group dinners for legislators: “Nobody would sit with me,” Clark said.
Yet, through perseverance and an unwavering commitment to his constituents, Clark rose through the ranks, eventually serving as chairman of the House Ethics Committee and the powerful Education Committee.
Clark's tenure in the Mississippi House of Representatives spanned 36 years, during which he witnessed and contributed to the gradual transformation of the state's political climate. He also rose to the second-highest leadership role in the state House.
In a state where almost 40% of the residents are Black, his leadership and advocacy paved the way for more Black candidates to win seats and for the creation of majority-Black districts, often as a result of court-ordered redistricting.
Clark's impact extended beyond his legislative achievements. As a widower, he raised his two sons, instilling in them the values of education and public service.
His dedication to family and community was evident in his decision to homeschool his children and involve them in the legislative process.
The respect Clark earned from his peers, both Black and white, culminated in his election as House speaker pro tempore in January 1992, a role he held until his retirement in 2004.
His leadership and mentorship inspired a new generation of lawmakers, including his son Bryant Clark, who succeeded him in the state House.
Source: WJTV 12 News / Youtube.
In February 2018, Clark, among the five activists and elected officials, was honored at a gala at the newly opened Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, a fitting tribute to a man who had lived through and shaped the state's civil rights narrative.
Clark and his first wife, Essie, had two sons, Robert G. Clark III and Wandrick Bryant Clark. After Essie passed away from cancer in 1977, he raised their sons as a widower, homeschooling them and bringing them to the state Capitol during legislative sessions.
Nearly 19 years later, Clark remarried Jo Ann Ross. In 2003, he decided not to run for re-election, and his second son, Bryant Clark, won the seat while continuing his legal career. Meanwhile, Robert G. Clark III served as a chancery judge across four counties.
His story, from the cotton fields to the Capitol, serves as a powerful reminder of the progress that can be made when individuals stand firm in the face of adversity. From the tough early days of his family working in cotton fields in Holmes County, Clark has made ripples in history with his career.
The GrayVine community joins in mourning the loss of this trailblazing figure and celebrates the enduring legacy he leaves behind. Robert Clark's life story is not just a chapter in Mississippi's history but a narrative of courage and change that continues to inspire us all.
We invite you to share your thoughts and memories of Robert Clark or other civil rights pioneers who have made an impact on your life. Let us honor their contributions by continuing the conversation in the comments below.
Clark, a figure of resilience and change, was not only Mississippi's first Black lawmaker of the 20th century but also a symbol of progress in a time of deep-seated segregation and racial strife.
Born into a family with roots that reached back to the days of slavery, Clark's journey from the cotton fields of Holmes County to the halls of the state Capitol is a testament to the power of determination and the relentless pursuit of justice.
His life's work has left an indelible mark on the state's political landscape and serves as an inspiration to all who strive for equality and representation.
Robert Clark's story began in the rural heart of Mississippi, where he was born into a family of slaves.
His grandfather, William Clark, who had been born into slavery, imparted lessons of self-reliance and independence that would shape Robert's character and worldview. He would sit by the side of the field together with his grandfather as a small child.
Robert G. Clark, Mississippi's first black lawmaker of the 20th century, died at age 96 from natural causes. Image source: Mississippi Public Broadcasting / Youtube.
“He had never owned a pair of pants or shoes until after slavery,” Robert Clark shared with The Associated Press in an interview. “Their feed was poured over to them in a trough just like we feed hogs, and they had to get down and eat the best way they could.”
“I’d throw a hand of corn over and the chickens would be eating. I’d throw another hand of corn over there, and chickens would leave that hand of corn and run to another hand,” Clark reminisced.
“And I asked him, ‘Grandpa, why them old crazy chickens got corn and just run to the other corn?’ He said, ‘Young man, they’re just following the crowd.’ And he said, ‘That’s something I never want you to do.‘
Clark's pursuit of education led him to Michigan, where he earned a master's degree, a remarkable achievement for a Black man from Mississippi during that era.
He returned home with a promise to uplift his community, starting as a teacher and coach, where he quickly recognized the need for adult education to empower parents and improve the lives of their children.
“I realized many of the parents could not help their children with the lessons,” Clark said. “And I went to the superintendent of education to ask him if he would implement an adult education program. And he told me, ‘No, I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the county to do that.’”
Clark's political career was born out of a refusal to accept the status quo. When his proposal for an adult education program was rejected by the all-white local school board, he announced his candidacy for the board, only to see the rules change to prevent his election.
Undeterred, Clark set his sights higher and ran for state representative, a decision that would lead him to make history.
In 1967, Clark was elected as the first Black lawmaker in Mississippi since Reconstruction, a monumental victory that came with its own set of challenges.
Source: Mississippi Public Broadcasting / Youtube.
Since Black people were largely excluded from Mississippi's Democratic Party, Clark's family was part of the Republican Party’s “Black and Tan” faction during his childhood. As political allegiances shifted in the late 1960s, he initially ran for a legislative seat as an independent. It was only later that he successfully ran as a Democrat.
On his inauguration day in January 1968, Clark was uncertain whether he would be permitted to take his oath.
The white candidate he had defeated had challenged his eligibility, alleging that he was not a resident of Holmes County, despite his family's long-standing presence there.
His early days at the Capitol were marked by isolation and exclusion, as he was relegated to sitting alone and ignored by his white colleagues.
The isolation extended to group dinners for legislators: “Nobody would sit with me,” Clark said.
Yet, through perseverance and an unwavering commitment to his constituents, Clark rose through the ranks, eventually serving as chairman of the House Ethics Committee and the powerful Education Committee.
Clark's tenure in the Mississippi House of Representatives spanned 36 years, during which he witnessed and contributed to the gradual transformation of the state's political climate. He also rose to the second-highest leadership role in the state House.
In a state where almost 40% of the residents are Black, his leadership and advocacy paved the way for more Black candidates to win seats and for the creation of majority-Black districts, often as a result of court-ordered redistricting.
Clark faced ostracization and isolation in the early years of his political career, being ignored by white colleagues and relegated to sitting alone in the legislative chamber. Image source: Mississippi Public Broadcasting / Youtube.
Clark's impact extended beyond his legislative achievements. As a widower, he raised his two sons, instilling in them the values of education and public service.
His dedication to family and community was evident in his decision to homeschool his children and involve them in the legislative process.
The respect Clark earned from his peers, both Black and white, culminated in his election as House speaker pro tempore in January 1992, a role he held until his retirement in 2004.
His leadership and mentorship inspired a new generation of lawmakers, including his son Bryant Clark, who succeeded him in the state House.
Source: WJTV 12 News / Youtube.
In February 2018, Clark, among the five activists and elected officials, was honored at a gala at the newly opened Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, a fitting tribute to a man who had lived through and shaped the state's civil rights narrative.
Clark and his first wife, Essie, had two sons, Robert G. Clark III and Wandrick Bryant Clark. After Essie passed away from cancer in 1977, he raised their sons as a widower, homeschooling them and bringing them to the state Capitol during legislative sessions.
Nearly 19 years later, Clark remarried Jo Ann Ross. In 2003, he decided not to run for re-election, and his second son, Bryant Clark, won the seat while continuing his legal career. Meanwhile, Robert G. Clark III served as a chancery judge across four counties.
His story, from the cotton fields to the Capitol, serves as a powerful reminder of the progress that can be made when individuals stand firm in the face of adversity. From the tough early days of his family working in cotton fields in Holmes County, Clark has made ripples in history with his career.
The GrayVine community joins in mourning the loss of this trailblazing figure and celebrates the enduring legacy he leaves behind. Robert Clark's life story is not just a chapter in Mississippi's history but a narrative of courage and change that continues to inspire us all.
We invite you to share your thoughts and memories of Robert Clark or other civil rights pioneers who have made an impact on your life. Let us honor their contributions by continuing the conversation in the comments below.
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