ABSTRACT
Septima Poinsette Clark's death on December 15, 1987, ended her struggle for human rights for her people within the framework of the United States political, social, and economic system. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, she was born on May 3, 1898. Her father, Peter Poinsette, was born a slave on the Joel Poinsette farm between the Waccamaw River and Georgetown. On April 19, 1956, the South Carolina legislature passed a law stipulating that no city or state employee could be affiliated with any civil rights organization. Clark sought the assistance of many outstanding black leaders to assist her at Highlander. Clark's work with SCLC required that she travel throughout the Southeastern United States directing workshops in citizenship, education, and voting. However, Clark contended that women who participated in citizenship education became aroused citizens and assumed positive roles in the quest for civil as well as women's rights.
