Oral history with Mr. Fred Clark, Sr.

              An Oral History with Mr. Fred Clark Sr.
This oral history is provided through a cooperative project of USM Libraries and USM's Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage It is presented here for reference purposes only. Interviews in this collection are protected by copyright and PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
Mr. Fred Clark was born May 1, 1943, in Birmingham, Alabama, because his uncle worked in a factory there and could pay the hospital bill. " My mother returned to Mississippi as soon as she could walk, and I've been here ever since, active in community efforts for positive change," he says. Mr. Clark grew up in the segregated society of Jackson, Mississippi. His mother died when he was four years old. " I was granted a few more privileges than most of my childhood community as a result of some family structure working for me in the secondary family members, a fairly good community and school environment, and as result of my family being associated with the Lampton family, whom my grandma, Mary Smith Clark, worked for after taking over for my mother, Mary Alice Moore. Grandma provided the moral and emotional nurturing necessary to make me a decent citizen in the absence of my mother and father." Mrs. Clark died in 1988. Mr. Clark was educated in Jackson because he chose to stay and care for his grandmother. He attended Smith Robertson Elementary School, Rowan Junior High, Holy Ghost Catholic School, Lanier High, and Jackson State University for undergraduate and graduate school. Employment in Mr. Clark's life has ranged from professional golf caddy in high school, construction work, education, being a security guard, park ranger, deputized U. S. Marshall, and assistant prison policeman. Most of his life has been and still is centered around the church, community leadership, baseball in Mississippi, family life, education, and politics. Currently, he is on medical leave as a result of car accidents. He is rehabilitating and looking forward to reemployment in education soon. He lives with his wife, Marilyn D. Clark, and his children, Fred Clark Jr. ( 23) and Frederick Santos ( 15).
Topics Discussed
Background and growing up in Jackson Meeting James Bevel and Diane Nash Mass meetings and religion The movement and Uncle Toms Meeting in Georgia Freedom Riders Arrested and sent to Parchman " This ain't nothing but death talk in Mississippi" Tougaloo
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