Civil Rights Activist Clara Luper 2011 Memorial Program Sit-in Movement Katz.

Clara Mae Shepard Luper was born on May 3, 1923 in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma.  She graduated from Grayson High School, then received her Bachelor of Arts at Langston University.  She was the first African-American to enroll in the History Department at the University of Oklahoma, and earned her Masters degree there.  Her 40+ year teaching career included the Deaf, Blind, and Orphan School in Taft, Oklahoma, Lincoln High School in Pawnee, Douglass High School in OKC, Dunjee High School in Spencer, Northwest Classen High School in OKC, and John Marshall High School in OKC.

Luper wrote, directed and produced the play "Brother President", which led to her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.  Herbert Wright, NAACP National Youth Director, invited her group of students to perform the play in New York City at a Salute to Young Freedom Fighters Rally.  While in NYC, the students were exposed to integrated lunch counters, and set out to desegregate lunch counters back home in Oklahoma.  "On the night of August 19, 1958, as the advisor for the NAACP Youth Council, she led the group of fourteen youth, ages seven to fifteen, and initiated the historic, non-violent Sit-in movement.  The movement resulted in the desegregation of the Katz Drug Stores across the country and other establishments in downtown Oklahoma City."  Luper passed away June 8, 2011.

Some of the many awards she received include NAACP Life Achievement Award, National NAACP Advisor of the Year, Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Program is 8 pages including cover.

Be sure to check out my other listings for more Clara Luper-related items and other Oklahoma hisotry related items.