I chose Clara Luper because she was a confident woman who led by example during the Civil Rights Movement. I admire how fearless she was and how she was a role model for her students. Clara Luper had a lot of confidence and courage. She was very committed to what she was doing and was empowered to stand up for herself and others. She was strategic in bringing her students to sit-ins and made an agreement with the police that they wouldn’t be violent in order to keep them safe. During the Civil Rights Movement, a sit-in was a form of peaceful protest. 

Clara Luper was raised in Hoffman, Oklahoma. She received a bachelor's degree from Langston University. She later got a master's degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1951 and was the first African American allowed into the graduate history program there. Clara raised awareness about the inequalities between Blacks and whites and contributed to people’s rights. 

My vision for my artwork was to make Clara stand out so that people can see that she was an important person and leader. My artwork shows Clara’s impact on society and how she was fighting for her rights and the rights of others. I painted her in front of people participating in a sit-in. I also wrote a quote from Clara that reads, "Just as in the women's suffrage movement, some of us had to go to jail. We knew we couldn't just sit back, point at someone else, and tell them they had to go. We had to do it ourselves." 

I chose to do a painting because I thought I could show how important Clara Luper really was. My Unsung Hero has inspired me to always stand up for what's right. She also taught me to be confident and courageous in life. I hope that other people can see that too.