A woman of outstanding courage who withstood brutal prejudice to pursue education and inspire generations

There’s an old saying that goes, “until God opens a door, praise him in the hallway.” No one knew the reality of this saying more than the remarkable Clara Belle Williams.

In 1937, Clara made history when she became the first African American student to graduate from the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. This accomplishment came with burdens, misfortunes, and difficulties, not least because of the implacable racism and prejudice of the American South at the time, which led to her suffering untold volumes of segregation and discrimination.

However, while growing up, Clara earnestly followed the example of her parents, poor sharecroppers who taught themselves to read and write, stressing the importance of education and determining that their children should be educated at any cost.

Many years later, in an interview with a Chicago newspaper, Clara recalled that her grandfather would bounce her up and down on his lap saying, “This is going to be my little school teacher.”

It is evident from what followed that Clara took her family’s advice to heart in spite of the many obstacles that lay ahead.

... story continues ...