Phyllis Brown
Many African American teachers have made significant breakthroughs in history. Among them is Clara Belle Williams, a beloved educator from New Mexico.
She holds the distinction of being the first Black student to graduate from New Mexico State University (NMSU).
Her journey was marked by resilience and pioneering spirit, breaking barriers in education during a time of racial adversity. The remarkable woman inspired generations with her dedication to learning and equality.
Williams’ deep love of studying
Clara Belle Williams was born on October 29, 1885, in Plum, Texas. Though the Civil War had ended twenty years earlier, life remained challenging for Black citizens.
It is said that her parents were likely born into slavery. Despite poverty, they tried to take Clara and her siblings to a one-room schoolhouse nearby.
However, segregation laws affected schools and colleges nationwide, creating many obstacles for Clara. Despite these challenges, she had a strong love for learning.
As a young woman, she enrolled at Prairie View Normal and Independent College in Prairie View, Texas, now known as Prairie View A&M University. Clara Belle excelled in her studies, graduating as valedictorian in 1905.
In 1917, she married Jasper Williams, and they had three sons. The family-owned a drug store in El Paso, but a fire destroyed it after their insurance had lapsed, leaving them without an income.
This hardship forced them to move to Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the mid-1920s. There, she began teaching school.
Williams earned $100 per month for nine months of the year and was provided with housing. Over the years, she taught at several schools in the area, including more than twenty years at Booker T. Washington in Las Cruces. Her husband also spent some time teaching in New Mexico.
Faced with discrimination due to her skin color
Her passion for learning never faded, and she pursued higher education. In 1928, Clara Williams enrolled at the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now New Mexico State University), which was then an all-White institution.
Throughout her time there, Clara faced significant discrimination from both students and faculty. Many professors refused to let her enter their classrooms, not even allowing her to sit at the back.
Determined, she stood in the hallway, listening to lectures and taking notes. Her hard work and resilience paid off, and in 1937, at the age of 51, she proudly earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English.
Imagine her standing tall, ready to accept her diploma as the first African American graduate from NMSU. However, the university barred her from participating in the graduation ceremony.
According to Heroes, Heroines & History (HHH), she had to collect her diploma through the registrar’s window. Many of her white classmates even boycotted the ceremony in protest of the university awarding a diploma to a Black student.
Her enduring legacy
Clara passed her love of learning to her three sons, all of whom became doctors: Jasper Jr., James, and Charles. Clara worked as a receptionist in their medical practices.
Many years passed before Clara received the recognition she deserved from New Mexico State University. In 1961, the university named a street on campus after her. In 1977, she was inducted into the National Education Association’s teachers’ hall of fame.
In 1980, Clara received an honorary doctorate of laws from NMSU, which also apologized for the discrimination she faced as a student. In 2005, the university’s English department building was renamed Clara Belle Williams Hall.
Today, NMSU honors her memory with a scholarship for undergraduates.
