Anniversary of Dr. John Henrik Clarke's Death

“A good teacher, like a good entertainer first must hold his audience's attention, then he can teach his lesson” - John Henrik Clarke

(John Henrik Clarke)

John Henrik Clark was born as John Henry Clarke on January 1st, 1915 in Union Springs, Alabama, USA. His family moved to Columbus, GA. In 1933 he moved to Harlem, NY. He then renamed himself “John Henrik Clarke”. Clarke developed as a writer and lecturer during the Great Depression years. He studied intermittently at New York University, Columbia University, Hunter College, the New School of Social Research and the League for Professional Writers. In 1941 Clarke served as a non commissioned officer in the United States Army Air Forces.

(Clarke in 1941)

In 1949 Clarke was co founder of the “Harlem Quarterly”. In 1956 Clarke taught at the New School for Social Research. In 1958 he traveled to West Africa and met Kwame Nkrumah. He also lectured at the University of Ghana and elsewhere in Africa, including in Nigeria at the University of Ibadan.Clarke’s writing included six scholarly books and many scholarly articles. In 1968 he founded the African Heritage Studies Association and the Black Caucus of the African Studies Association.

(Clarke in 1968)

In 1969 Clarke became a professor of Black and Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College of the City University of New York. He also was the Carter G. Woodson Distinguished Visiting Professor of African History at Cornell University’s Africana Studies and Research Center. In 1994 Clarke earned a doctorate from the non accredited Pacific Western University.

(Dr. Clarke in 1996)

On July 12th, 1998 Dr. John Henrik Clarke died of a heart attack in New York City, New York, USA. He was 83 years old. Today is the 19th anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great educator today.

Books by John Henrik Clarke

• A New Approach to African History (1967)   
• The Boy Who Painted Jesus Black (1975)
• African World Revolution:Africans At The Crossroads (1991)
• Who Betrayed the African World Revolution?: And Other Speeches(1993)
• African People in World History (1993)
• My Life in Search of Africa (1994)

Videos of John Henrik Clarke

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m61IeKmvOws  “Dr. John Henrik Clarke on the African Origin of Christianity”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY8G47rTRLc  “Don't Throw Out The Bible | John Henrik Clarke”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWs6hU-TqQI  “Dr. John Henrik Clarke Shocking Statement”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d0ltZpBk6g  “Blacks Will Rule Again”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWQxkwTBTrM  “THE WHITE WASH OF CHRISTIANITY: Dr. John Henrik Clarke”