Winnice P. Clement facts for kids

Winnice P. Clement was a very important person in Minden, Louisiana. She worked as the Registrar of Voters for almost 26 years, starting in 1940. Her job was to help people register to vote. During her time, some groups tried to stop African Americans from voting. But Winnice Clement was brave and kept doing her job until 1966. This was after a new law, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, helped make voting fair for everyone.

Who Was Winnice Clement?

Winnice P. Clement was the Registrar of Voters in Webster Parish, Louisiana. This meant she was in charge of registering people to vote. She started this important job in 1940. When she began, almost no African Americans were registered to vote in her area. By 1956, nearly 2,000 African Americans had registered. This was a big change!

Facing Challenges to Voting Rights

In 1956, a group called the White Citizens' Council tried to remove African American voters. This group supported segregation, which meant keeping people of different races separate. They wanted to stop African Americans from voting.

The White Citizens' Council's Actions

It was common for white people to register without a special test. Winnice Clement used the same rules for African American people. The White Citizens' Council did not like this. They complained to the governor of Louisiana, Robert Kennon.

After these complaints, Winnice Clement had to start strictly enforcing a law. This law included a test about understanding the Constitution. By March 1956, this test caused 24 white people to be disqualified from voting.

Standing Up for Voters

Because of the council's continued protests, Governor Kennon fired Winnice Clement. But in May 1956, another governor, Earl Long, gave her job back. Governor Long also worked to change the law. He wanted to remove the difficult "literacy test" that had been used since 1898. This test was often used to stop African Americans from voting. The new plan would also make it harder to remove voters from the lists without a court order.

The Fight for Fair Voting Continues

Even with these efforts, it was still hard for African Americans to register. By 1962, only about 100 African Americans were registered in Webster Parish.

Federal Involvement and New Laws

Winnice Clement was called to speak to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. She also had to answer questions for a federal grand jury. Her office was even inspected by the FBI. She was involved in many court cases for years.

In 1963, a court ordered that the voting test could not be used. Then, on March 14, 1966, a higher court ordered that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 must be followed. This law made it illegal to stop people from voting based on their race.

A Legacy of Change

Winnice Clement retired on May 1, 1966. By July 1966, nearly 1,800 African Americans were registered to vote in Webster Parish. Her hard work helped make voting fair for many people.