Clara Ann Thompson facts for kids

Clara Ann Thompson (1869-1959) was an African-American poet and teacher. She also worked to support civil rights for all people. Clara Ann Thompson was born in Rossmoyne, Ohio. Her parents, John Henry and Clara Jane Gray Thompson, were once enslaved in Virginia. This means they were forced to work without pay or freedom.

Thompson's most famous book of poems was "Songs from the Wayside" (1908). Her second collection, "A Garland of Poems", came out in 1926. Some of her poems also appeared in a book called "An Anthology of Verse by American Negroes" (1924).

Her Life Story

Clara Ann Thompson lived most of her life in Rossmoyne, Ohio. She also taught school outside of her hometown for a while. She never married. Instead, she lived with two of her siblings, Priscilla Jane Thompson and Garland Yancey Thompson.

Clara Ann Thompson passed away on March 18, 1959. She died in Rossmoyne, Ohio, from a brain bleed. She is buried with her family, but the exact spot of her grave is not known.

Working for Change

Thompson was very active in her community. She was part of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). She also attended her local church, Zion Baptist.

She was a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This group works for equal rights for African Americans. When the NAACP chapter in Cincinnati started, both Clara and her sister Priscilla joined. They wanted to help promote civil rights.

Being part of the NAACP inspired Thompson to write poems about race. One famous poem was “What Mean This Bleating of the Sheep?”. She recited this poem in churches in Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Sometimes, her brother Aaron Belford was with her. In Indianapolis, Thompson met important people like Booker T. Washington and James Whitcomb Riley.

Through the NAACP, the Thompson family had an impact on the Harlem Renaissance. This was a time of great artistic and cultural growth for African Americans. It also influenced Washington, D.C.. Because her poem was so popular, Thompson copyrighted it in 1921. This meant she could publish it whenever she wanted.

Her Poetry Collections

"Songs from the Wayside"

Thompson published her first poetry book, "Songs from the Wayside", herself. She used her own printing press. This collection has 35 poems. Many of them are about religion and use Christian words. Thompson also used "dialect language" in her poems. This is also known as black vernacular English.

The poems in this book are about "spirituality, black folk wisdom, and nature." Thompson dedicated this book to her siblings Garland and Priscilla. The very first poem in the collection was dedicated to her brother Samuel, who had passed away.

"A Garland of Poems"

Thompson's second book of poems, "A Garland of Poems", was published in 1926. A company in Boston called the Christopher Publishing House published it. This book was dedicated only to Garland Yancey. Thompson wrote that it was "in recognition of his unfailing Kindness and Affection."

At this time, Thompson felt more comfortable with her religious beliefs. Her poems about race became less common. This collection came out during the World Wars. The poems were meant to offer comfort and guidance during those difficult times.