Robert Clark, Mississippi's first Black lawmaker after Civil Rights era, dies at 96

Source: Associated Press

Robert Clark, Mississippi’s first Black lawmaker after Civil Rights era, dies at 96

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Updated 1:42 PM EST, March 4, 2025

LEXINGTON, Miss. (AP) — Robert G. Clark, who was elected in 1967 as Mississippi’s first Black lawmaker of the 20th century and rose to the second-highest leadership role in the state House of Representatives, died Tuesday at age 96, his son said.

Rep. Bryant Clark, who succeeded Robert Clark, said his father died of natural causes at home in Holmes County, north of Jackson.

A teacher and descendant of slaves, Clark was ostracized during his first years at the state Capitol, relegated to sitting solo at a two-person desk in the House chamber and ignored by white colleagues at social events.

By the time he left office 36 years later, he had served as chairman of both the House Ethics Committee and the powerful Education Committee. In a state where nearly 40% of residents are Black, he saw more Black candidates win seats as voting rights were enforced and more majority-Black districts were drawn, sometimes under court order.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-robert-clark-obituary-black-lawmaker-2c5cb28df956e57654d73f84d6c6bba3