Washington’s Slave Oklahoma Civil Rights Activist George Washington was Clara Shepard Luper, The Story of Dr. Martin Lu- Jim Crow laws in the conflicted over the issue of an Oklahoma schoolteach- ther King about his nonvio- South; a time when col- slavery. He was raised in the er, became a leader in the lence philosophy, She and her oreds had to drink out of culture of slavery, inheriting American Civil Rights Youth Council were invited separate water fountains, 10 slaves when is was only Movement and led one of to present it at a national free- use separate restrooms, ride 11 years old. Over subse- the first sit-in protests, 18 dom rally in New York City. in the back of the bus, and quent years he acquired more, months before the famous could not stay in a hotel. some through gifts or inher- Greensboro, N.C. sit-in. Reflecting on the trip Clara itance, and others through She was born and lived her Luper said, “It gave my purchase. When he married entire life in Oklahoma. young people a taste of Martha, she was a wealthy Her father was a World freedom.” widow who brought to the marriage an additional 80 War I veteran and laborer, That taste led to one of slaves of her own. This and her mother was a laun- the nation’s first ever sit- brought the total number dress. Clara received a ins. In preparation for that slaves (men, women, and B.A. in mathematics with sit-in Luper taught her stu- children) at Mount Vernon to a minor in history in 1944 dents four steps of nonvio- about 150. from Langston University. lent resistance. Those steps Ona Judge, born around In 1950 she was one of a included 1) investigation 1773, was the daughter of group of African- (making sure there really one of Martha’s slaves and a American students who was an injustice to fight); 2) white indentured servant. integrated the University negotiation, 3) education; Ona, also known as Oney, of Oklahoma, the first Af- and 4) demonstration. She worked as a seamstress in the rican-American admitted NewsOK (http://newsok.com/ stressed the importance of Washington house starting at to the graduate history pro- gallery/3258/pictures/77148) protesters recognizing there the age of nine, and later be- gram, and earned her M.A. would be suffering in the came Martha’s personal maid in History Education. The experience of the rally struggle for justice, and and part of Washington’s Starting in 1957 she and the performance were they must be ready to sacri- presidential household when taught history at Dunjee memorable to Clara and her fice with dignity. they moved to Philadelphia. High School in Oklahoma students, but so too was the On August 19, 1958, Philadelphia was a thriving City, and also advised the bus trip. It took them from inspired by comments from abolitionist stronghold and Oklahoma City NAACP areas where African Ameri- the children, 13 children according to Pennsylvania Youth Council. Inspired cans could not eat at lunch (ages 6 to 17), Clara Luper law any slave who stayed in the state more than six by the work of Martin Lu- counters with whites or use and other advisors went to months could establish resi- ther King, Jr. and the the same water fountains, to the counter in Katz Drug dency and ultimately their Montgomery Bus Boycott, regions where they could, Store in downtown Oklaho- freedom. The Washingtons, she wrote and staged a then back again to where they ma City and sat down and aware of this law, would take play, Brother President: could not. This was a time of (Continued on page 4) their slaves in and out of the state every six months to avoid the slaves establishing Table of Contents residency. Oney endured this Oklahoma Civil Rights Activist; Washington’s Slave 1 six-month transport for more than five years. One day Professional Athletes with Physical Challenges 2 however, Oney became Literature Connection; World War II Heroine 3 aware that Martha was plan- (Continued on page 3) Hallway Education? 4 USAO’s Classroom Spice Professional Athletes with Physical Challenges (Match the number to the correct athlete.) Rocky Bleier 1. This Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher was born without a right hand. He won a gold medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics and pitched a total of 888 strikeouts in his MLB career. Bethany Hamilton 2. This athlete’s legs were badly burned in an accident when he was a child, losing all the flesh on his knees and shins and all the toes on his left foot. He suffered through intense physical therapy but later went on to compete in the 1500m event in 1932 and 1936 Summer Olympics, Glenn Cunningham win the Silver medal in the latter and was considered the greatest Ameri- can miler of all time. 3. This ESPY Award-winning mixed martial arts athlete became the first Jim Abbott quadruple amputee to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro without the aid of prosthet- ics in 2012. Matt Stutzmann 4. This athlete was injured during the Vietnam War when a grenade sent shrapnel into his lower right leg. Although told that he would never play football again, he went on to become a Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers four times over. Natalia Partyka 5. This Polish athlete was born in 1989. She was born without a right hand and forearm. She is a table tennis player who takes part in competitions for able-bodied athletes and athletes with disabilities, and competed in the Anthony Robles London 2012 Olympic women's table tennis. 6. When this athlete was 13 years old her left arm was bitten off by a shark in a surfing accident in 2003. She went on to place 1st at the NSSA National Florence Griffith Joyner Competition in 2005 and had a movie about her life released. 7. American track and field athlete described as the “fastest woman of all time” suffered from epilepsy. She set world records at the 1988 Olympics Kyle Maynard and the 1984 and 1988 Olympics for the 100- and 200-meter runs. She also won a total of three gold medals and two silver medals during the latter. 8. This athlete was born with only one leg. He won a national champion ship as a high school senior, finishing his high school wrestling career with a record of 129–15. He finished his Arizona State wrestling career with a record of 122–23, a three-time Pac-10 wrestling champion, as well as being named a three-time All-American in the 125-pound weight class. 9. This world-class archer was born with shoulder stumps, but no arms. 3 -- Maynard 7; — Joyner 8; — Robles 5; — Partyka 9; 9; — Stutzman 1; — Abbott 2; — Cunningham 6; — Hamilton 4; — Bleier : Answers 2 USAO’s Classroom Spice (Washington’s slave—cont’d from page 1) The Literature Connection ning to give her away as a wedding gift to her granddaughter, regardless Someday is Now: Clara Luper and schoolers. Both tell the story of Joan of Oney’s years of loyal service. the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-ins, by Mulholland who as a white 10-year old Oney then began to plan her escape. Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, living in Virginia in1952 recognized the On May 21, 1796, while the Wash- ISBN 978-1-63322-498-8, introduces 6 injustice of how blacks were treated. As ingtons were dining, Oney slipped -9 year olds to the inspirational story of she grew up her philosophy of justice and out of the house and with the help of Clara Luper. It shows the power of injustice solidified and in 1960 she openly members of the free black communi- believing in justice and activism It joined the Civil Rights Movement to the ty boarded a ship headed to Ports- highlights the resilience and determin- horror of many in her family and to the mouth, N.H. In Portsmouth she was ism of young students who truly made college she attended, Duke University. helped by the local free black com- a difference in the civil rights move- Her activity in sit-ins, protests, marches, munity and found work as a domes- ment. The information at the end of the and freedom rides resulted in being threat- tic. Unfortunately, one day she was book will be particularly appreciated by ened, arrested and jailed. Once released recognized by a friend of the Wash- middle school students. she enrolled in an all-black college in Mis- ingtons and Washington was notified. sissippi which was not well received by Over time Washington was becoming many blacks and whites. See related edu- uncomfortable about the institution of cator resources at slavery and believed in a gradual www.anordinaryhero.com. abolition of slavery, but his angry feelings over his perceived betrayal Anthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph by Oney made him demand her re- of a Fugitive Slave by Virginia Hamil- turn. However, circumstances made ton ,ISBN 0-590-42893-4 is most appro- the attempt to retrieve Oney of lesser Clip art—http://staff.camas.wednet.edu/ priate for middle school and older stu- importance, so gradually she felt safe. blogs/larablair/2014/01/08/302-news/ dents. It describes the true story of Antho- She kept observant and eventually ny Burns a 20 year old escaped slave in she married and gave birth to a baby She Stood for Freedom: The Untold 1854. His freedom is in question and a girl. When an agent finally came Story of a Civil Rights Hero, Joan court case ensues based on provisions of looking to recapture her, she fled to Trumpauer Mulholland, by Loki Mul- the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.