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Septima Poinsette Clark

  • Septima Poinsette Clark is born

    Clark is born in Charleston, South Carolina.
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    Septima Poinsette Clark's Lifetime

  • *Finishes High School

    *Finishes High School
    Clark finisihes high school at the private school, the Avery Normal Institute, but cannot work in local schools because of the law that prohibits blacks from working in the Charleston public schools. Image courtesy of SC Encyclopedia.
  • *First Job: Teacher on Johns Island

    *First Job: Teacher on Johns Island
    Clark starts teaching on Johns Island because she cannot teach in the Charleston public schools. Image courtesy of Septima Poinsette Clark Scrapbook, 1919-1983.
  • *Campaigning for Equal Employment

    Septima Poinsette Clark, Edwin Augustus Harleston, and Thomas E. Miller campaigned for the employment of blacks in Charleston's public schools. They were successful and in 1920 a law passed allowing blacks to work in the public school system.
  • *Campaigning for the Equalization of Teacher's Salaries

    Septima Poinsette Clark and others campaigned for the equalization of teacher's salaries. They were successful.
  • *Education at Atlanta University

    Clark continues her education in Rural Socialogy and Physical Education at the Atlanta University.
  • *Bachelor's Degree from Benedict College

    *Bachelor's Degree from Benedict College
    Clark furthered her education in Columbia at Benedict College. There she received her Bachelor's Degree. Image courtesy of Benedict College.
  • *Equalization of Teacher's Salaries becomes Law

    In 1945, the salaries of black and white teachers become equal.
  • *Master's Degree from Hampton Institute

    *Master's Degree from Hampton Institute
    Clark also got her Master's Degree from Hampton Institute in Virginia. Image courtesy of Documenting the American South.
  • *Clark visits the Highlander Folk School

    *Clark visits the Highlander Folk School
    Clark visits the Highlander Folk School in Monteagle, Tennessee. There she meets Myles Horton. Image courtesy of the Tullahoma News.
  • *Dissmissal from Charleston's public schools

    *Dissmissal from Charleston's public schools
    A law in South Carolina is passed in 1954 that bans any teachers with memberships in the NAACP. Clark is fired from the public school system because of her National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) membership. Image courtesy of Septima Poinsette Clark Scrapbook, 1919-1983.
  • **Citizenship School Program Creation

    Septima Poinsette Clark, Myles Horton, and Esau Jenkins establish the first citizenship school program on Johns Island.
  • *SCLC adopts the program

    *SCLC adopts the program
    After the Highlander Folk School was shut down, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference adopted the program. Image courtesy of CivRights.
  • *Echo in My Soul published

    *Echo in My Soul published
    Septima Poinsette Clark's autobiography, Echo in My Soul, was published.
  • *The CItizenship School Program shows results

    By 1963, the Citizenship School Program has taught thousands throughout the south. These people impact their communities by spreading their knowledge and participating in the Civil Rights Movement.
  • *Literacy-Liberation published

    Literacy-Liberation by Septima Poinsette Clark is published.
  • *Champions of Democracy published

    Champions of Democracy by Septima Poinsette Clark is published.
  • *Nobel Peace Prize with MLK Jr.

    Clark accompanied Martin Luther King Jr. to Norway for his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize.
  • *Why Vote In the South published

    Why Vote In the South by Septima Poinsette Clark is published.
  • *Elected to the Charleston County School Board

    *Elected to the Charleston County School Board
    Septima Poinsette Clark is the first black women elected to the Charleston County School Board.
  • *Community Service Award

    Clark receives the Community Service Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
  • *Distinguished Senior Citizen Award

    Clark receives the Distinguished Senior Citizen Award from the National Black Caucus.
  • *Back pay Received

    Clark receives her back pay from the Charleston Public School System.
  • *Received the Living Legacy Award from President Jimmy Carter

    *Received the Living Legacy Award from President Jimmy Carter
    In 1979, Clark received the Living Legacy Award from President Jimmy Carter for her achivements made towards the Civil Rights Movement. Image courtesy of Septima Poinsette Clark Scrapbook, 1919-1983.
  • Clark's Death

    Clark's Death
    Clark dies on Johns Island. Image Courtesy of Find a Grave.