Robert G. Clark, who made history in 1967 as Mississippi’s first Black lawmaker of the 20th century and eventually became one of the state’s highest-ranking officials, passed away on March 4 at 96, his son confirmed.
Rep. Bryant Clark, his son and successor, said his father died of natural causes at their home in Holmes County, north of Jackson.
A teacher and descendant of slaves, Clark faced intense isolation during his early years at the state Capitol. He was assigned to a two-person desk but was left to sit alone and largely ignored by his white colleagues at social events.
But over the course of his 36-year career, Clark made a lasting impact. He became chairman of both the House Ethics Committee and the influential Education Committee. As Mississippi began enforcing voting rights and creating more majority-Black districts, Clark witnessed an increase in Black candidates winning seats. At a time when nearly 40% of the state’s population was Black, he was a trailblazer.
By the end of his career, Clark had earned the respect of both Black and white colleagues, who elected him as House speaker pro tempore in 1992—a position he held until retiring in 2004.
In February 2018, Clark was honored at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum during a black-tie gala. It was a far cry from his humble beginnings in Holmes County, where most of his family worked in cotton fields. As a child, Clark would sit with his grandfather, William Clark, who was born into slavery and often shared his painful memories of hardship.
“He never had a pair of pants or shoes until after slavery,” Robert Clark recalled in a 2018 interview. “Their feed was poured to them in a trough, just like we feed hogs, and they had to get down and eat the best way they could.”
It was his grandfather’s resilience and wisdom that helped shape Clark’s sense of self and his drive to become a leader.
Clark later earned a master’s degree in education from Michigan and returned to Mississippi, keeping a promise to his elders to serve his community. As a teacher and coach, he made a point to visit his athletes’ homes, building lasting connections with the people he served.
