Learn & Explore
Explore Oklahoma’s civil rights history through storytelling, exhibitions, archives, oral histories, and educational resources designed for learners of all ages.
Freedom Center
Freedom Center of Oklahoma City stands in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Historical Eastside and represents an integral part of the civil rights story in Oklahoma City, a story that parallels the struggle for civil rights nationwide. The Center was founded by Clara Luper with the intent to build on the success of the sit-ins organized by the Oklahoma City NAACP Youth Council. In 1967, arrangements were made to acquire the historic Freedom Center building located at NE 25th St and North Martin Luther King Ave.
Who Was
Clara Luper?
Clara Mae Shepard Luper was born in 1923 in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma. Luper was a career public school teacher who taught her students and others in the community to employ non-violent means to protest injustices. Luper also served as an advisor to the NAACP Youth Council for 50 years, leading countless marches, pickets, and rallies to champion all matters of civil rights.
Clara Luper’s decades-long efforts in the Civil Rights Movement make her a significant figure to Oklahoma City and beyond. Her efforts resulted in widespread desegregation of Oklahoma City businesses, and launched a national sit-in campaign. All the while, she worked to provide her community with resources to better their lives through education, maintain awareness and appreciate the struggles of the past.
The young people of today are tomorrow’s change agents.
— Clara Luper
OKLAHOMA CITY
SIT-IN MOVEMENT
In 1958, Clara Luper and her students staged one of the nation’s first sit-ins at Katz Drug Store in Oklahoma City with the goal of eliminating segregation in public accommodations. Thirteen students took seats at the lunch counter and ordered drinks, but were refused service; they remained at their seats for hours and returned for the next two days in nonviolent protest. On the third day of protest, the drug store relented and served the students, sparking a national wave of sit-in campaigns.
Luper and the NAACP Youth Council continued their nonviolent sit-in campaign for the desegregation of Oklahoma City establishments for six years, until the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. They succeeded in opening the doors of over 175 Oklahoma City restaurants through their efforts
1958 13 students take a stand.
Refused Service.
Returned for 3 days.
Change Begins.
FREEDOM CENTER TIMELINE
1910
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in 1910.
1913
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Oklahoma City chapter was founded in 1913.
1935
The NAACP established “Youth Councils”, providing meetings and activities for young people.
1950
Youth Councils had established a leading position in the Civil Rights Movement, launching letter-writing campaigns, conferences, and demonstrations.
Clara Luper established OKC’s NAACP Youth Council.
1957
Clara Luper wrote and directed a play called Brother President that led her Youth Council to perform it in New York City. This trip helped shape the vision of the Freedom Center and the change that Clara Luper and her students would work towards in the future.
1957
Youth Councils had established a leading position in the Civil Rights Movement, launching letter-writing campaigns, conferences, and demonstrations.
Clara Luper established OKC’s NAACP Youth Council.
1958
On January 7th, 1968, Clara Luper was elected as a member of the legal branch staff of the NAACP.
On August 19th, 1968, while Clara Luper was serving as the advisor of the OKC NAACP Youth Council, Luper and her students staged one of the nation’s first sit-ins at Katz Drug Store in OKC.
1964
Clara Luper and the Youth Council led sit-ins at restaurants and businesses across Oklahoma City in the 1950s, resulting in the integration of over 175 businesses by the time the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandated integration of public places. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had mandated integration of most public spaces and banned discrimination in employment.
1965
Freedom Center Inc. was formed as an organization on November 12, 1965.
1967
The Freedom Center Inc. acquired a former Mobil gas station at the corner of NE 25th St and what is now N. Martin Luther King Ave.
1968
The Freedom Center building suffered various crimes during this time including windows being repeatedly broken, vandalism to the exterior, and fires.
November 10, 1968, the Freedom Center was nearly destroyed by a firebomb. This event drew local and national attention to the civil rights movement and to the vision of the Freedom Center.
1969
In February of 1969, a ground-breaking ceremony was held to kick off efforts to repair and rebuild.
In June of 1969, volunteers helped to clean debris and donate materials when the mayor’s committee authorized to refurbish the Freedom Center.
From August to November of 1969, The Freedom Center served as a hub for the organization of a massive sanitation workers’ strike in Oklahoma City.
1970
Two years after the firebomb attack, the Freedom Center hosted an open house for the public in the refurbished building on September 19th, 1970.
1992
The Black History Monument was installed on the grounds of the Freedom Center in November of 1992. The monument honors local and national people who battled for civil rights. During this time, the exterior was white – not brick.
1995-1996
Brick was added to the exterior during this time. The brick was voted on by the Freedom Center board as an effort to rebuild after the bombing. The purpose of adding the brick was to create a sense of safety and stability, as well as to add visual interest in the building’s appearance.
2011
Clara Luper passed away on June 8th, 2011. Her efforts throughout her lifetime were significant in creating lasting change and paving the way for future generations.
The Freedom Center remained as a significant resource for the community and board members until Luper’s passing in 2011.
2018
In August of 2018, City Council passed an ordinance naming the Freedom Center building as a historic landmark.
2019
In January of 2019, the board reached out to Councilwoman Nikki Nice to seek her support for including the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center in MAPS 4 and she fully backed the initiative.
In July of 2019, The Freedom Center board formally presented the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center concept to the City Council.
2020
The board began looking at the needs for staffing, program design and restoration of the Freedom Center building.
The formal planning process for the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center began with Lord Cultural Resources.
2025
The Freedom Center of Oklahoma City re-opened its doors to the public, with the mission to educate, empower and enlighten our nation to reflect on the past, present and future of the Civil Rights Movement in Oklahoma.
2026
On June 12, 2026, the Freedom Center of Oklahoma City held its inaugural exhibition, Inside These Walls: The History of the Freedom Center opened.
In July of 2026, the ground-breaking Ceremony will take place for the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center.
TOGETHER, WE PRESERVE HISTORY.
Every gift helps ensure that Oklahoma's civil rights stories remain accessible for generations to come.