Mississippians honor first Black lawmaker since Reconstruction

Former state Rep. and House Speaker Pro Tem Robert Clark Jr. lies in state at the State Capitol Rotunda on Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Jackson. Clark was the first Black legislator in the state since Reconstruction.
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Former Mississippi Rep. Robert Clark Jr. lay in state Sunday in the Capitol Rotunda as family, friends, officials and fellow citizens paid respect to the first Black legislator in the state since Reconstruction.

Clark, a Holmes County native, was elected to the House in 1967 and served until his retirement in 2004. He was elected speaker pro tempore by the House membership in 1993 and held that second-highest House position until his retirement.

The Senate and House honored the 96-year-old veteran lamaker last week.

A Mississippi State Trooper salutes the coffin of former State Representative and House Speaker Pro Tem Robert Clark, Jr., before the changing of the honor guard in the State Capitol rotunda, Sunday, March 9, 2025 in Jackson. Clark was also the first Black legislator in the state since Reconstruction.
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161455/Robert-Clark-3.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161455/Robert-Clark-3.jpg” src=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161455/Robert-Clark-3.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-1134860″ srcset=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161455/Robert-Clark-3.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161455/Robert-Clark-3-768×508.jpg 768w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161455/Robert-Clark-3-1536×1017.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161455/Robert-Clark-3-1200×794.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161455/Robert-Clark-3-1568×1038.jpg 1568w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161455/Robert-Clark-3-400×265.jpg 400w” sizes=”(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px”>

“Robert Clark … broke so many barriers in the state of Mississippi with class, resolve and intellect. So he is going to be sorely missed,” Lt.Gov. Delbert Hosemann said last week.

Hosemann was among those who came Sunday to honor Clark. So did House Speaker Jason White, who like Clark hails from Holmes County. 

Rep. Bryant Clark (center) chats with Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in the State Capitol Rotunda where Rep. Clark’s father, Robert Clark, Jr. lies in repose. Robert Clark, Jr. a former State Representative and House Speaker Pro Temp Robert Clark, Jr., was also the first Black legislator in the state since Reconstruction.
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09162900/Robert-Clark-9.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09162900/Robert-Clark-9.jpg” src=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09162900/Robert-Clark-9.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-1134863″ srcset=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09162900/Robert-Clark-9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09162900/Robert-Clark-9-768×527.jpg 768w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09162900/Robert-Clark-9-1536×1054.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09162900/Robert-Clark-9-1200×823.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09162900/Robert-Clark-9-1568×1076.jpg 1568w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09162900/Robert-Clark-9-400×274.jpg 400w” sizes=”(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px”>

Clark was the only Black Mississippian serving in the Legislature from until 1976 and was ostracized when first elected, sitting sat at a desk by himself without the traditional deskmates. But he rose to be a respected leader.

An educator when elected to the House, Clark served 10 years as chair of the House Education Committee, including when the historic Education Reform Act of 1982 was passed.

Clark served as the only Black Mississippian serving in the Legislature from 1968 until 1976.

Clark was ostracized when first elected to the House and sat at a desk by himself without the traditional deskmates that other House members had. But he rose to be a respected leader.

“He was a trailblazer and icon for sure,” White said last week.

Former State Representative and House Speaker Pro Tem Robert Clark, Jr., lies in state at the State Capitol rotunda, Sunday, March 9, 2025 in Jackson. Clark was also the first Black legislator in the state since Reconstruction.
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161442/Robert-Clark-4.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161442/Robert-Clark-4.jpg” src=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161442/Robert-Clark-4.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-1134859″ srcset=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161442/Robert-Clark-4.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161442/Robert-Clark-4-768×508.jpg 768w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161442/Robert-Clark-4-1536×1016.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161442/Robert-Clark-4-1200×794.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161442/Robert-Clark-4-1568×1037.jpg 1568w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161442/Robert-Clark-4-400×265.jpg 400w” sizes=”(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px”>

Respects are paid to former State Representative and House Speaker Pro Tem Robert Clark, Jr., lying in state at the State Capitol rotunda, Sunday, March 9, 2025 in Jackson. Clark was also the first Black legislator in the state since Reconstruction.
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161417/Robert-Clark-6.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161417/Robert-Clark-6.jpg” src=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161417/Robert-Clark-6.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-1134857″ srcset=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161417/Robert-Clark-6.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161417/Robert-Clark-6-768×509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161417/Robert-Clark-6-1536×1018.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161417/Robert-Clark-6-1200×795.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161417/Robert-Clark-6-1568×1039.jpg 1568w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161417/Robert-Clark-6-400×265.jpg 400w” sizes=”(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px”>

Respects are paid to former State Representative and House Speaker Pro Tem Robert Clark, Jr., lying in state at the State Capitol rotunda, Sunday, March 9, 2025 in Jackson. Clark was also the first Black legislator in the state since Reconstruction.
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161405/Robert-Clark-7.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161405/Robert-Clark-7.jpg” src=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161405/Robert-Clark-7.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-1134856″ srcset=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161405/Robert-Clark-7.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161405/Robert-Clark-7-768×508.jpg 768w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161405/Robert-Clark-7-1536×1017.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161405/Robert-Clark-7-1200×794.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161405/Robert-Clark-7-1568×1038.jpg 1568w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161405/Robert-Clark-7-400×265.jpg 400w” sizes=”(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px”>

Family and friends gathered at the Capitol Rotunda to pay their respects to former State Representative and House Speaker Pro Tem Robert Clark, Jr., lies at the State Capitol, Sunday, March 9, 2025 in Jackson. Clark was also the first Black legislator in the state since Reconstruction.
” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161350/Robert-Clark-8.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161350/Robert-Clark-8.jpg” src=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161350/Robert-Clark-8.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-1134855″ srcset=”https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161350/Robert-Clark-8.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161350/Robert-Clark-8-768×528.jpg 768w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161350/Robert-Clark-8-1536×1056.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161350/Robert-Clark-8-1200×825.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161350/Robert-Clark-8-1568×1078.jpg 1568w, https://cdn.mississippitoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/09161350/Robert-Clark-8-400×275.jpg 400w” sizes=”(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px”>

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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