THE EDMOND SUN – Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Civil rights activist speaks at school

MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN

The Edmond Sun

            Clara Luper, an Oklahoma City civil rights activist who marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke to Cimarron Middle School eight-graders Monday about the importance of ethnic diversity.

            The program kicked off Cimarron’s celebration of Black History Month, which officially occurs during the month of February.

            Luper educated the students about racial issues related to the Civil War, Jim Crow Laws and the fight to overturn them.  She also discussed the initiative to recognize African-Americans at the state Capitol.

            Currently, Caucasians and Native Americans are honored on the Capitol grounds, where there is no equivalent for African-Americans, Luper said.

            Luper is part of the fundraising effort for the Oklahoma African-American History Plaza, a $4 million project.  Building the plaza would show the world that Oklahoma believes in diversity, Luper said.

            The plaza is to be dedicated in 2007.

            Luper is known to many as the “Mother of the Civil rights Movement.”  Among other things, Luper lead sit-ins at various Oklahoma City restaurants and pushed for integration of Oklahoma City schools.

            Throughout her life, Luper said she espouses King’s preferred tactic of change through nonviolent protest.

            Into the 1950s, Oklahoma had some of the worse “Jim Crow laws” in the nation, Luper said.

            For example, whites and blacks were not allowed to use the same telephone booth.  Telephone companies were required to maintain separate booths for white and black patrons when there was a demand for such separate booths.

            Any instructor who taught in a segregated school was deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.  Other related laws covered fishing, boating, bathing and mining.

            And Alabama’s law regarding buses required separate waiting rooms or space and separate ticket windows for whites and blacks.

            Luper said she was blessed to be able to see the changes that have since taken place.  Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh was the first governor to set aside a day of remembrance honoring King.

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            “God allowed me to see the day when blacks and whites could sit down together; I’m so grateful; I’m so grateful,” Luper said.

            Luper said that she lived through the dark days of segregation, but now can proclaim that she lives in a country, in a state in which change does happen.

            Today, all races, African-American, Caucasian, Native American and Hispanic Americans included, go to school together, Luper said.

            Luper also encouraged the students to broaden their educational experience by studying foreign languages.  In other countries, students known five, six, even seven languages, Luper said.

            “I challenge each one of you, take advantage of your opportunities,” Luper said.  “Do not live with hatred, live with love…I want you to go to the top…Fly, fly to the top of your class.”

            (Education reporter Mark Schlachtenhaufen may be reached via e-mail at ms@edmondsun.com.)