Clara Luper

Clara Luper, center, and Gov. Frank Keating, far right, at the dedication ceremony for the Clara Luper Corridor in Oklahoma City, 2000. Courtesy Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.
Clara Luper, center, and Gov. Frank Keating, far right, at the dedication ceremony for the Clara Luper Corridor in Oklahoma City, 2000. Courtesy Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.

Clara Luper proudly served the state through education, activism, service, and leadership. After earning degrees from Langston University and the University of Oklahoma, Luper began teaching in 1951. With a specialization in history and public relations, she taught at public schools in Spencer, Taft, Pawnee, and Oklahoma City.

Luper mentored and inspired Oklahoma youth throughout her career, instilling lifelong interest in education and social justice. Her dedication led to the creation of the first National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth Council in Oklahoma City. In 1958, the Katz Drug Store in Oklahoma City became the site of the first organized sit-ins in the United States, led by Luper and the NAACP Youth Council. This peaceful protest sparked a movement to desegregate lunch counters and led to a city ordinance against racial discrimination in public accommodations. Luper continued to be a key leader in the fight for racial equality, organizing and participating in freedom marches across the country, and worked towards desegregating Oklahoma City Public Schools.

Clara Luper and Justice Tom Colbert at the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, 2007. Courtesy Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.
Clara Luper and Justice Tom Colbert at the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, 2007. Courtesy Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.

Throughout her life, Luper earned many awards, honorary degrees, and numerous scholarships have been named in her honor. Through her diligence and dedication, Luper broke down numerous racial barriers, or what she called "walls," and created a more equitable world for all Oklahomans. Her service continues to inspire and remind us that one person's dedication can transform an entire state and beyond.

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