THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603280352
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Nine-year-old Kevin Terrell knew about Henrik Clarke, had seen his story-made-into-HBO-movie and had heard about his books on African culture before he saw the man speak Wednesday night.
``But I guess I didn't realize how smart he was,'' the Norfolk youngster said. ``Wow. Man. The way he just talked about so much history, on and on. It was exciting and inspiring.''
Clarke, 81, acclaimed historian and author, including ``The Boy Who Painted Christ Black'' story, which was recently produced into a television movie, was a guest lecturer at Norfolk State University on Wednesday night. He urged a crowd of more than 400 to begin ``nation-building'' through a ``restoration of African culture'' to ensure the societal progress of black Americans.
Clarke's visit was sponsored by two community groups and Norfolk State University's Pan Hellenic Council as a follow-up to the Million Man March.
``We're doing what we can through our activities and forums like this to keep the spirit of the march alive,'' said Okeba Kwame of the IMANI-Foundation, one of the sponsors.
``Brother Clarke is the perfect person to deliver the message.''
And Clarke delivered a powerful one last night.
Through a speech laced with historical anecdotes, Clarke said that African Americans must be self-reliant through black-owned businesses and less dependent on government to curb poverty and crime, which disproportionately effect the black community.
``Somewhere in the march of life, we've lost the definition of ourselves,'' Clarke said.
``Look back at what slavery and colonialism did to us. It not only took away a nation, it took away a nation state of mind.''
Clarke spoke for 1 1/2 hours, sitting placidly in a chair behind the microphone, holding nothing back. He called the Bible ``the greatest propaganda medium'' which has crippled many, and called Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan's behavior that of a ``misbehaving schoolboy.''
``What has been done (in the community) could've been done without the gathering in Washington,'' Clarke said, referring to the Million Man March.
``If something positive has come out of it, great. But we didn't need to march to know that we need to adopt our children. . . .
``We shouldn't have had to march for that.''
Clarke stressed that black Americans have lost their way and will only find it by returning to African values.
``You cannot lift a people from a lower to a higher without morality and discipline,'' Clarke said.
``When Europeans came to Africa, there weren't any orphanages, no old folks' homes. No one discarded Grandma and Grandpa. There was a basic humanity we have to get back to.'' MEMO: [Color photo appeared on page B1.]
by CNB