John Henrik Clarke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Henrik Clarke
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| Born | John Henry Clark January 1, 1915 Union Springs, Alabama |
| Died | July 16, 1998 (aged 83) Manhattan, New York City |
| Occupation | Writer, historian, professor |
| Nationality | American |
John Henrik Clarke (born John Henry Clark; January 1, 1915 – July 16, 1998) was an African-American historian and professor. He was a leader in creating Pan-African and Africana studies programs. These programs helped teach about African and African-American history and culture.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
John Henry Clark was born on January 1, 1915, in Union Springs, Alabama. He was the youngest child of John Clark, who was a sharecropper, and Willie Ella Clark. His mother passed away in 1922. His family moved to Columbus, Georgia, hoping to earn enough money to buy their own land.
When he was 18, in 1933, Clarke left Georgia. He traveled by freight train to Harlem, New York. This was part of the Great Migration, when many Black people moved from the South to northern cities. In Harlem, he focused on learning and activism. He changed his name to John Henrik Clarke, adding an "e" to his last name. He also joined the U.S. Army during World War II.
Clarke was greatly inspired by the scholar Cheikh Anta Diop. Clarke believed that many early Greek thinkers learned from Africans. He thought Africans had a big impact on the early Western world.
Teaching and Academic Roles
From 1969 to 1986, Clarke was a professor at Hunter College in New York City. He helped start and lead the Black and Puerto Rican Studies department there. He also taught African History at Cornell University’s Africana Studies and Research Center.
In 1968, he helped create two important groups. These were the African Heritage Studies Association and the Black Caucus of the African Studies Association. These groups supported the study of African and African-American history.
The New York Times newspaper noted that it was unusual for Clarke to become a professor. He did not have a high school diploma or a Ph.D. at first. But they said he was a very original thinker. In 1994, Clarke earned a doctorate degree. He had earned a bachelor's degree in 1992.
A Career of Writing and Activism
By the 1920s, many African Americans lived in Harlem. This led to a special time called the Harlem Renaissance. Artists, writers, and musicians worked together. They formed study groups to help new and young talents.
Clarke arrived in Harlem in 1933, at age 18. He became a writer and speaker during the Great Depression. He joined study groups like the Harlem History Club. He also studied at different universities, but mostly taught himself. A scholar named Arturo Alfonso Schomburg was one of his mentors. From 1941 to 1945, Clarke served in the United States Army Air Forces. He reached the rank of master sergeant.
After World War II, new small magazines and publishers started. Clarke helped create the Harlem Quarterly magazine. He also edited book reviews for the Negro History Bulletin. He was an editor for Freedomways magazine. He also wrote for the Pittsburgh Courier, a Black-owned newspaper.
Clarke taught at the New School for Social Research from 1956 to 1958. He traveled to West Africa in 1958–59. There, he met Kwame Nkrumah, who he had known as a student. Clarke was offered a job as a journalist for the Ghana Evening News. He also gave talks at the University of Ghana and in Nigeria.
In the 1960s, the Black Power movement grew. Clarke became well-known during this time. He believed it was important to study African-American experiences. He also wanted to show Africa's place in world history. He challenged how history was usually taught. He felt that traditional scholars often ignored or twisted African history. He said they had Eurocentric views, meaning they focused too much on Europe.
Clarke wrote six scholarly books and many articles. He also edited collections of writings by African Americans. He published his own short stories too. He also wrote general interest articles. In one famous debate, he edited essays that criticized a novel by William Styron. The novel was about Nat Turner, a slave who led a rebellion.
Besides teaching, Clarke started groups to support Black culture. He helped found the African Heritage Studies Association. This group supported scholars in history, culture, and arts. He also helped start the Black Academy of Arts and Letters.
Personal Life
John Henrik Clarke was married three times. He had a daughter named Lillie from his first marriage. In 1961, he married Eugenia Evans. They had a son, Sonni Kojo, and a daughter, Nzingha Marie. In 1997, he married Sybil Williams.
Clarke passed away from a heart attack on July 16, 1998. He was buried in Green Acres Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia.
Legacy and Honors
- In 1985, the library at Cornell University's Africana Studies and Research Center was named the John Henrik Clarke Library.
- In 1995, he received the Carter G. Woodson Medallion.
- In 2002, Molefi Kete Asante named Dr. John Henrik Clarke as one of his 100 Greatest African Americans.
- In 2011, the artist Immortal Technique included a speech by Dr. Clarke on his album The Martyr.
Short Stories by John Henrik Clarke
- "On the Other Side: A Story of the Color Line," Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, Vol. 17, No. 9 (September, 1939): 269-270.
- "Leader of the Mob: A Story of the Color Line," Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, Vol. 17, No. 10 (October, 1939), p. 301-303.
- "Santa Claus is a White Man: A Story of the Color Line," Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, Vol. 17, No. 12 (December, 1939), pp. 365–367.
- "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black: A Short Story," Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, Vol. 18, No. 9 (September, 1940), pp. 264–266.
- "Prelude to an Education: A Short Story," Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life, Vol. 18, No. 11 (November, 1940), pp. 335+
- "Return to the Inn," The Crisis, Vol. 48, No. 9 (September 1941), pp. 288+
- "The Bridge," Harlem Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Winter 1949-1950), pp. 2–8.
- "Return of the Askia," Harlem Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Spring 1950), pp. 45–49.
- “Journey to Sierra Maestra,” Freedomways, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Spring, 1961), pp. 32–35.
- “The Morning Train to Ibadan,” Journal of Negro Education, Vol. 31, No. 4 (Autumn, 1962), pp. 527–530.
- “Third Class on the Blue Train to Kumasi,” Phylon, Vol. 23, 3rd Quarter (Fall, 1962), pp. 294–301.
- "Revolt of the Angels - A Short Story," Freedomways, Vol. 3, No. 3 (Summer 1963): pp. 355–360.
See also
