Bryant Clark facts for kids

Bryant W. Clark, born on October 31, 1974, is an American politician from Mississippi. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Mr. Clark serves in the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing the 47th district. He has been a state representative since 2004. He took over this role from his father, Robert G. Clark Jr..

His district covers parts of Attala, Holmes, and Yazoo counties. These areas are in central Mississippi. The district includes both hilly areas and the Mississippi Delta region.

Early Life and Schooling

Bryant Clark grew up in Ebenezer, a town in Holmes County. His father, Robert G. Clark Jr., made history in 1967. He was the first African American state lawmaker elected in Mississippi after the Reconstruction era. He served until 2003.

Bryant Clark finished McClain High School in Lexington in 1993. He then went to Holmes Community College in Goodman, Mississippi. There, he earned his Associate of Arts degree in 1995. After that, he studied at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi. In 1998, he graduated with high honors. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. During his college years, he also studied at Stillman College in Alabama and the University of Mississippi in Oxford.

In 2000, he started law school at the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson. While studying law, he was active in student government. He was also a member of the Black Law Student Association. In December 2002, he earned his law degree, called a Juris Doctor. He is now a licensed attorney in Mississippi. He can practice law in various state and federal courts.

Public Service and Leadership

Mr. Clark is the President of the Holmes County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP is an important organization that works for civil rights. He used to be the Vice President of the Young Democrats of Mississippi.

In 2004, he was chosen for the Holmes County Democratic Executive Committee. He also joined the State Democratic Executive Committee. For four years, he served as the Secretary of the State Democratic Executive Committee. In 2002, he received an award as a Distinguished Young Democrat.

Serving in the Mississippi House of Representatives

Working on Committees

Mr. Clark has been part of many important committees in the House. These include committees for Education, Justice, Youth Justice, Public Health, and Wildlife. He also worked on committees for Water and Conservation, and Transportation. He was once the Vice Chair of the Rules Committee. He also served as Secretary of the Public Health & Human Services Committee. Currently, he is the Vice Chair of the Water & Conservation Committee.

He is also a member of several groups within the legislature. These include the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus and the House Democratic Caucus. He also belongs to the House Sportsman's Caucus. In 2012, he was chosen as the Deputy Leader of the House Democratic Caucus.

His Time in Office

Bryant Clark was first elected to the Mississippi legislature in 2003. This happened after his father, Robert G. Clark, Jr., retired. Bryant Clark was reelected in 2007 and again in 2011.

His father, Robert Clark Jr., was involved in the civil rights movement. He was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1967. This was after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. This law helped African American citizens register and vote in the South. Robert Clark Jr. was the first African American elected to the Mississippi State Legislature since the Reconstruction era. He was reelected for over three decades. When he retired in 2003, he was serving as the Speaker Pro Tempore of the state house.