Mother of Civil Rights Movement – Podcast
Oklahoma and American hero Clara Luper. The organized Civil Rights movement began with her and her N.A.A.C.P. Youth in 1957, years before events in other states that are popularly remembered for launching the historic effort. Courage, grit, perseverance, and Christian compassion marked her. “If you can love, you can live,” she said. Listen to her story and what and who inspired her and you will believe it!
iHeartRadio star Gwin Faulconer-Lippert and John share the stirring tale of one of Oklahoma’s greatest legends. It’s the twelfth episode of our weekly OKLAHOMA GOLD! radio program and podcast. Go HERE to listen to them all! Future episodes explore more great heroes, events, and movements of Oklahoma History.
Want to learn a little more about Clara, John has this additional article HERE for your history loving pleasure.
Members of Clara Luper’s Oklahoma N.A.A.C.P. Youth Council at a segregated Oklahoma City lunch counter sit-in, circa 1960.
Conservative governor Raymond Gary (1955-1959), whose leadership role in Oklahoma integration greatly aided the efforts of Clara Luper and the Civil Rights movement in the state.
Being the mother of the modern American Civil Rights movement did not come without painful birth pangs. Clara Luper was arrested twenty-six times.
