Carrie Williams Clifford

Poet, activist, teacher and editor

What is Carrie Williams Clifford known for?

Carrie Williams Clifford was a notable alumna of Chillicothe High School in Chillicothe, Ohio. Born in September 1862 in Chillicothe, Ohio, Clifford is celebrated as an American author, clubwoman, and fervent activist in the women's rights and civil rights movements in the United States.

Throughout her life, Clifford had a significant influence on society and politics. She founded the Minerva Reading Club in Cleveland, which became a forum for discussing current social issues. She was also instrumental in establishing the Ohio Federation of Colored Women's Clubs in 1901 and served as its first president.

Clifford developed a close relationship with W. E. B. DuBois, which enabled her to recruit a large number of female delegates to the 1907 Niagara Movement meeting in Boston. Following her move to Washington D.C., her home became a hub for black activists involved in the Harlem Renaissance. These gatherings often included prominent figures like Mary Church Terrell. When the NAACP evolved from the Niagara Movement, Clifford continued her activism, serving as a central leader, particularly focusing on issues related to children.

In addition to her political work, Carrie Williams Clifford was a prolific writer, contributing to the discourse on politics and race through her lectures and writings. She penned two noteworthy books of poetry, 'Race Rhymes' (1911), and 'The Widening Light' (1922). These works tackled issues like racial and gender inequalities, current events in black political life, and celebrated black historical figures. Her poems often appeared in black newspapers, alongside her politically charged essays.

Learn more about Carrie Williams Clifford's Poetry and her impactful Civil Rights Activism.