Portrait Of First Black Woman In Mississippi Legislature Unveiled At State Capitol In Another Historic First

Former Representative Alyce Clarke, the first Black woman elected to the Mississippi Legislature, has achieved another milestone by becoming the first Black person, and first woman, to have her portrait exhibited in the state Capitol.

On Tuesday, she smiled as fellow lawmakers, friends, and supporters honored her during a ceremony to reveal the oil painting. The portrait now occupies a prominent position in the room where the House Education Committee convenes.

Clarke, an 84-year-old Democrat from Jackson, dedicated 39 years of service before opting not to run for reelection in 2023.

“Thank God, I’ve had more good days than I’ve had bad days,” she said during a ceremony. “And I’d just like to thank everybody who’s here. I’d like to help everybody who’s helped me to get here because I did nothing by myself.”

In the Mississippi Capitol, the portraits predominantly feature former governors and House speakers, all of whom were white men.

Artist Ryan Mack revealed that he based Alyce Clarke's portrait on a photograph from the mid-1980s, also while emphasizing her significant contributions, particularly in education and nutrition programs.

“I’m a true believer and witness of the good she has done,” Mack said.

The first Black man to secure a seat in the Mississippi Legislature in the 20th century was Robert Clark, no relation to Alyce Clarke, served as a Democrat from Ebenezer. Elected to the House in 1967, he retired in December 2003, and the subsequent year, a state government building in downtown Jackson was dedicated in his honor.

Alyce Clarke secured victory in a special election held in March 1985, while another Black woman, Democrat Alice Harden of Jackson, claimed a seat in the Mississippi Senate two years later.

Although several other Black women have been elected to the Mississippi Legislature, women still constitute a minority in both the 122-member House and the 52-member Senate.

Throughout her legislative tenure, Clarke advocated vigorously for various initiatives. Early on, she championed the establishment of Born Free, a facility providing drug and alcohol treatment for pregnant women. In the 1990s, Clarke spearheaded efforts to establish Mississippi's first drug courts, aimed at providing supervision, drug testing, and treatment services to reduce incarceration rates.

One of Clarke's significant achievements was the establishment of a state lottery. Despite facing obstacles, she persistently filed lottery bills for 19 years until legislators finally approved the creation of a lottery in 2018 to fund highway projects. In honor of her dedication, the legislation was named the Alyce G. Clarke Mississippi Lottery Law. Clarke made history by purchasing the ceremonial first lottery ticket when sales commenced in 2019 at a convenience store in Jackson.

Democratic Rep. Robert Johnson of Natchez remarked on Tuesday about Clarke's tenacity in advocating for her alma mater, Alcorn State University. Reflecting on a meeting with a legislative leader regarding university funding, he anticipated Clarke's inquiry about whether he had supported the historically Black institution.

“I opened the door and came out, and who is standing outside the door? Ms. Clarke,” Johnson said. “I’m going to tell you: The city of Jackson, the drug courts, the lottery and Alcorn State University — nobody had a better champion than Alyce Clarke.”