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Freedom Teacher: The Life of Septima Poinsette Clark

George R.R. Martin

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Photo Of Septima Clark, A Smiling African American Woman With Short Hair And Glasses Freedom S Teacher: The Life Of Septima Clark

Septima Poinsette Clark was an African American civil rights activist and educator who dedicated her life to fighting for social justice. She was best known for her work in the Civil Rights Movement, where she played a pivotal role in the fight for voting rights and the establishment of Freedom Schools.

Freedom's Teacher: The Life of Septima Clark

by Katherine Mellen Charron

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Early Life and Education

Septima Poinsette Clark was born on May 1, 1898, in Charleston, South Carolina. Her parents were former slaves who instilled in her a strong belief in the importance of education. Clark attended Avery Normal Institute (now Avery Normal University) and earned a teaching certificate in 1916. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Benedict College in 1924 and a master's degree from Columbia University in 1939.

Teaching Career

Clark began her teaching career in 1916 in rural South Carolina. She quickly realized the need for improved literacy among African Americans, who were often denied access to education. In 1947, she joined the staff of the Highlander Folk School in Monteagle, Tennessee, where she taught citizenship classes to adult African Americans.

Civil Rights Activism

In the 1950s, Clark became actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement. She worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to organize voter registration drives and challenge segregation laws.

In 1957, Clark founded the Citizenship Education Program (CEP),which established Freedom Schools across the South. These schools provided literacy training, voter education, and leadership development to African Americans who were denied access to quality education.

Freedom Schools

Freedom Schools were a crucial part of the Civil Rights Movement. They helped to increase voter registration and raise awareness of the importance of political participation among African Americans. They also provided a safe space for activists to meet and plan strategies.

Clark believed that literacy was essential for social change. She said, "If you can read, you can read anything." She also said, "If you can write, you can write anything." Clark's Freedom Schools helped to empower African Americans and give them the tools they needed to fight for their rights.

Later Career

After the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Clark continued to work for civil rights and education. She served on the board of directors of the Southern Poverty Law Center and the National Women's Political Caucus. She also taught at the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston.

Legacy

Septima Poinsette Clark died on December 15, 1987. She was 89 years old. She left behind a legacy of activism and education that continues to inspire people today.

Clark was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 for her work in the Civil Rights Movement. She was also inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993.

Septima Clark was a true pioneer in the fight for social justice. Her work helped to dismantle segregation, increase voter registration, and empower African Americans. She is remembered as a tireless advocate for education and a champion of civil rights.

Freedom's Teacher: The Life of Septima Clark

by Katherine Mellen Charron

4.8 out of 5