“The Inspiring Journey of a Groundbreaking Legislator”
LEXINGTON, Miss. (AP) — Robert G. Clark, the first Black lawmaker elected in Mississippi during the 20th century and who later ascended to the second-highest leadership position in the state House of Representatives, passed away at the age of 96 on Tuesday, according to his son. Representative Bryant Clark, who succeeded his father in office, shared that Robert Clark passed away peacefully at his home in Holmes County, located north of Jackson.
A former teacher and descendant of slaves, Clark faced isolation during his early years at the state Capitol, sitting alone at a two-person desk in the House chamber and being marginalized by white colleagues at social functions. Over his 36-year tenure, Clark overcame these challenges to become the chair of both the House Ethics Committee and the influential Education Committee. His time in office coincided with the rise of Black political representation in Mississippi, as voting rights were enforced and more majority-Black districts were established, often as a result of court mandates.
Clark earned the admiration and support of his peers, both Black and white, and in January 1992, he was elected as House speaker pro tempore, a position he held until his retirement in 2004. In February 2018, Clark was recognized among a group of activists and elected officials at a formal event at the newly opened Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, marking a significant contrast from his humble beginnings in Holmes County, where his family toiled in the cotton fields.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Clark credited his grandfather, who was born a slave and shared stories of hardship, for instilling in him the values of independence and leadership. Clark pursued higher education in Michigan and returned to Mississippi to honor his promise to his elders, ultimately embarking on a career as an educator and coach. His advocacy for adult education in the community led to a notable political journey, culminating in his historic election to the local school board after facing resistance from the establishment.
Clark’s legacy as a trailblazing lawmaker and advocate for education resonates with his poignant journey from humble beginnings to influential leadership, embodying the spirit of perseverance and service to his community.
In the power structure that reigned over Mississippi, Clark’s family had been affiliated with what they referred to as the “Black and Tan” faction of the Republican Party during his upbringing. As alliances shifted in the late 1960s, he entered his initial campaign for a legislative position running as an independent candidate. It was only later on that he would run, and emerge victorious, under the banner of the Democratic Party.
On the day of his inauguration in January 1968, Clark found himself uncertain whether he would be permitted to take his oath of office. The white opponent he had defeated had lodged a complaint asserting that he did not reside in Holmes County, where his family had resided for generations. Accompanied by his legal counsel, Marian Wright, who would go on to establish the Children’s Defense Fund, a prominent advocacy organization for the underprivileged, Clark stood near a statue of the late Theodore Bilbo, a staunch advocate of segregation who had held office as both governor and U.S. senator of Mississippi. Just minutes before the ceremony was set to commence, Clark was informed that he would indeed be sworn in.
The opulent House chamber, boasting marble walls and stained-glass windows, was brimming with dual-person oak desks where colleagues exchanged rumors and often forged strong bonds. Yet, in the deeply segregated backdrop of Mississippi in January 1968, the senior member of Clark’s local legislative delegation ordained that Clark would be seated in solitary.
This sense of isolation extended even to communal meals for lawmakers: “Nobody would sit with me,” Clark recounted. Being left to dine alone at tables arranged for six or eight posed a conundrum, resulting in an unintentional weight gain for Clark, who admitted, “I very shortly went up to 240 pounds. I didn’t intend to gain weight. I just wasn’t going to leave all that food on the table.”
Clark and his first spouse, Essie, were blessed with two sons — Robert G. Clark III and Wandrick Bryant Clark. Tragically, Essie succumbed to cancer in 1977, leaving Clark to raise their children as a widowed father, overseeing their education at home and bringing them along to the state Capitol during legislative sessions.
Nearly two decades after his first wife’s passing, Clark entered into matrimony with Jo Ann Ross. In 2003, he made the decision not to pursue re-election, with his second son clinching the seat. Bryant Clark also continued with his legal practice. Meanwhile, Robert G. Clark III assumed the role of a chancery judge across four counties. —-Contributed by Associated Press writer Jeff Amy from Atlanta.
