Gertha Clark

Gertha's story 

Gertha Clark told us about a time she and her children were out near a five and dime. 

"They said they wanted a drink. I went in the store, and I sat at the counter with my kids, and they told us that they couldn't serve us. I said, 'We just wanted a drink of water,' and they told me that we couldn't be served at the counter, that they could give me something in a paper cup down at the end of the counter. I didn't think that was too kosher myself," she said, laughing. She has a really amazing laugh.  

After Gertha shared this story, she reflected, “I can't remember why it was a surprise.” Then she remembered; she'd just returned to Springfield after living in Chicago for some time, long enough to think she could drink at the counter. 

“It was just a fact that segregation was rampant,” Gertha said. “We just adjusted.”

But there must have been times when it was harder to adjust. "We only had one theatre we could go to, the Landers, and that was upstairs," she told us. She remembers being there often because "that's the only place we had to go. We would pass other theatres and stuff. The Gillioz was on the Square; we never got a chance to go there." 

National upheaval had an effect as well. She remembered, "We went someplace, and while we were gone, it came over the radio that Dr. King had been assassinated.” Then she briefly covered her face with her hands. "I haven't thought about that in a long time," she said.

Church was a source of strength, and still is. She shared that her husband drives to Carthage every Sunday to a church he pastors. “One of my favorite verses is, ‘In all thy ways acknowledge Him. He shall direct thy path,’" she said. "It’s helped me through.”