JOHN HENRIK CLARKE LEAVES THE CIRCLE

Scholar/Historian John Henrik Clarke left the circle on Thursday, July 16, 1998 after succumbing to a heart attack. I have such rich memories of Professor Clarke coming into Drum and Spear Bookstore, in the late sixties,  and telling so many wonderful stories about his work and its purpose. He did pioneering work in African and African American Studies, which he taught at Hunter College. His book "American Negro Short Stories" remains a classic and was one of my earliest introductions to then negro writers. His activism included opposing the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the 30s and working with Malcolm X. Wesley Snipes narrated a documentary film "John Henrik Clarke: A Great, Mightly Walk." Hope it's at the video store.