[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 41 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E425-E426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DR. JOHN HENRIK CLARKE--MASTER TEACHER

                                 ______


                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 1996

  Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, in the first century, Pliny the 
Elder noted that

[[Page E426]]

 ``There is always something new out of Africa.'' As we approach the 
21st century, that statement is still extremely valid. There are many 
scholars who track this phenomenon, but there is no one more renowned 
than Dr. John Henrik Clarke.
  Dr. Clarke, a master teacher, always avails himself of opportunities 
to share his knowledge. This weekend he will visit Newark, NJ to 
participate in a lecture series sponsored by the New Jersey Black 
Issues Convention.
  In 1991, during the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative 
Conference, I had the honor and pleasure of convening a workshop in 
which Dr. Clarke participated. His presentation was simply 
spellbinding. Everyone sensed and appreciated his labor of love--
teaching. I am sure my fellow New Jerseyans will come away from this 
lecture equally stimulated and satisfied.
  John Henrik Clarke was born on January 1, 1915, in Union Springs, AL. 
He grew up in Georgia and moved to New York City in 1933 where he 
wanted to pursue a career as writer. After 4 years of military service, 
he attended New York University and majored in history and world 
literature. From his early years Professor Clarke studied the history 
of the world and the history of African people in particular.
  As a writer of fiction he has published over 50 short stories. His 
articles and conference papers on African and African-American history, 
politics, and culture have been published in leading journals 
throughout the world. He has written or edited over 21 books.
  Dr. Clarke has taught African history for 20 years and presently in 
professor emeritus of African world history in the Department of 
Africana and Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College in New York City, 
and a former distinguished visiting professor of African history at the 
Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University. He has 
received over a dozen citations for excellence in teaching and has 
received several honorary doctor of letters degrees. He was accepted 
into the Alpha Beta Upsilon Chapter of the honor society of historians, 
Phi Alpha Theta.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage anyone who has an opportunity to learn from 
Dr. Clarke to seize it.

                          ____________________