The Freedom Center, the establishment founded by civil rights leader Clara Luper, is in dire financial straits, the Black Chronicle has learned.Mrs. Luper, who has been ailing in recent years, and Lettie Ruth Hunter launched the center some years ago, and it has served as a meeting place, as well as a center that takes a stab of chronicling the history of the rights movement in Oklahoma.
The center has a Wall of Fame that depicts some of the persons who have contributed to the rights movement.
Mrs. Luper, a retired history schoolteacher, led the sit-in demonstrations that resulted in the desegregation of dining establishments in downtown Oklahoma City, as well as other places throughout the state.
She led the Oklahoma City NAACP Youth Council for much of the time she was involved in desegregation efforts.
Today, the Freedom Center is “way behind on its utility bills and insurance payments,” Anthony R. Douglas, president of the Oklahoma State Conference of Branches of the NAACP, said, “and it soon will be unable to keep its doors open unless financial help is given.”
In addition to the center’s inability to meet ordinary expenses, “the center itself is in dire need of repairs,” Mr. Douglas said in a letter sent out to get financial help.
He said that what he called “an extreme makeover” in terms of renovations is “long overdue” for the center.
Mr. Douglas attributed the center’s current financial circumstances to Mrs. Luper’s and Mrs. Hunter’s health predicament.
“They have not been able to take care of the finances at the center the way they should be,” he said.
Mr. Douglas said the board of directors of the center had appealed to the state organization of the NAACP for help.
The fundraising letter Mr. Douglas sent to all NAACP branches asked that each chapter contribute to a fundraising campaign for the Freedom Center, asking that even college chapters and youth groups join in.
He said appeals are being made to individuals, churches and other organizations that “want to save this historical center.”
Checks payable to the Freedom Center may be sent to the Oklahoma State Conference NAACP, P.O. Box 11024, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73136.
