Margaret L.

Clark Feature Story

Edward Corron

On a cold, gray day in the middle of April, Dr. Margaret Clark sat in the University of Arkansas
Alumni House, where here name is etched on the wall, and warmly recounted her life’s journey.

Clark, born in a small rural Georgia town, was never supposed to accomplish all that she did. As
an African-American woman growing up in the southern United States during the tail end of the
Jim Crow era, there was a lot stacked against her.

She sipped her black coffee as she depicted her time at MaComb’s Jr. High School, where she
was the only African-American student. However, her grandparents housed two of her
teachers, so she never felt as if she didn’t belong.

Clark pictured in bottom left. Courtesy: Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

“I didn’t experience any kind of concerns,” Clark said. “I didn’t know to experience them.”

After MaComb’s, Clark changed pace and moved to New York City where she attended Walton
High School, an all-girls institute. She fit in well with the women in her class, claiming to have
always been good at making friends wherever life took her.

Clark found a love for languages during her stint in the Bronx, and after settling in Arkansas, she
earned her degree in French from Arkansas AM&N in Pine Bluff.

“I’ve had doors open all my life,” Clark said.

However now, she felt stuck.

With her newly earned French degree, Clark was unsure what path she wanted to walk. She
began seeking new opportunities, because she knew she wasn’t going to receive any handouts.

Eventually, Clark landed as a substitute teacher at Merrill High School, one of four secondary
schools that served black students in Arkansas until public integration several years later. Here,
she found her niche.

“I discovered teaching was something I enjoyed,” Clark said. “It was really fun and I enjoyed
being able to explain things to students.”
Timeline of Desegregation:
From that day forward, her desire to teach took her
places she would have never imagined. Clark began 1948: U of A desegregates students
to further her education, she wanted to keep
learning and improving. 1957: Little Rock Nine

“Well, maybe I could do a little more,” Clark said. 1959: Clark becomes 1st black
professor at U of A

After traveling and learning through numerous scholarships, including one from the University
of Arkansas, Clark had a master’s degree – something an African-American woman from a farm
town in Georgia was never supposed to achieve.

In the summer of 1969, something special happened. With her new qualifications, she was
offered to be a visiting instructor at the University of Arkansas during the summer while she
pursued her doctorate. This was a feat relatively unheard of at universities across the United
States at the time: An African-American, woman professor.

It was a moment in history to be remembered, and a new experience for the students she was
teaching. They never had an African-American instructor before, which one might think would
lead to negative interactions, however Clark said they were usually positive.

“I think maybe there might have been more concern if it had been English or math,” Clark said.
“Since it was a foreign language, they didn’t know the language to challenge me as easy.”

One challenge she did face that summer and the following school year, however, was being
able to balance all of her responsibilities. Since she was the only African-American teacher, she
was asked to be a part of any and every committee on campus to help slowly start diversifying
the university.

On top of this, Clark was teaching four classes in two different departments, as well as writing a
dissertation. It was too much. She needed a change, so she simply just asked for an easier
schedule.

“Someone can do one of two things: say yes or no,” Clark said.
‘Ask’ is one of her favorite words, and it helped her during her time at the University of
Arkansas, as well as every aspect of life. She was able to manage her time better, and ultimately
be more successful in all she did, just by simply asking.

After several decades of teaching, Clark decided to call it a career and retire in 1998. She has
been awarded the Silas Hunt Legacy Award, the Outstanding Faculty Award, and the Martin
Luther King Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award, to name a few.

Most recently, the University of Arkansas announced that Clark’s legacy would continue on far
beyond her time as a professor, as a dorm on campus will be renamed after her. She seemed
overwhelmed with positive emotion when reflecting on the moment she was told the news.

“I was so humbled by it, I was so overwhelmed by the idea,” Clark said. “I could not feel that I
deserved it.”

However, anyone who knows her, knows she deserves it.

Margaret Clark is still involved in the Fayetteville community today, and has ties with many
organizations on campus. She was a true pioneer of her time, and she will leave a permanent
impression at the University of Arkansas. Her determination and unbroken commitment to a
life of learning will not soon be forgotten. For generations to come, Clark will be remembered
for breaking barriers and setting a path for others to walk down.

Clark pictured today. Courtesy: Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Contact Information:
Margaret L. Clark
mclark@email.uark.edu
(479) 530-5430