Clara Luper was a long-time Oklahoma civil rights leader whose lunch counter sit-ins helped end discrimination in public restaurants, making her the face of the Oklahoma Civil Rights Movement since the 1950s[9].
Clara Luper (May 3, 1923 – June 8, 2011) was an educator and activist who led the first successful lunch counter sit-in in Oklahoma in 1958 at the White Best Department Store in Oklahoma City. Her activism continued for decades, challenging segregation in public facilities and advocating for fair employment. She became known as the face of the Oklahoma Civil Rights Movement and mentored numerous young activists[9].
