John Henrik Clarke: A Great and Mighty Walk

John Henrik Clarke, scholar, historian, and activist takes the viewer on a "great and mighty walk" through over three centuries of black American history, seen through the prism of his own experience. Clarke vividly recalls his formative years, his eyewitness view of the Harlem renaissance, his role as an officer protecting the rights of black soldiers in WWII, the great days of the civil rights movement during the '50s and '60s, and the bittersweet victories and defeats in the years since. A major part of the film concerns Clarke's growing fascination with Afro-centric history, and his increasing involvement in Pan-African politics (he recounts his relationship as advisor to Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah). A confidant and admirer of Malcolm X, Clarke discusses his mixed feelings about Martin Luther King's legacy and takes a few swipes at Louis Farrakhan, calling his Million Man March little more than "showbiz liberation." Produced and narrated by Wesley Snipes, the video is most compelling when Clarke recalls his Harlem days and the struggles of the civil rights movement. His Afro-centric views may offend some viewers, particularly when he generalizes about Arabs and other peoples, and when he denigrates organized religion's role as a force in securing peace and justice for the oppressed. Also, the film is much too long, limiting its value in the classroom. In spite of these caveats, this look at an important though little known African-American leader deserves to be seen. Recommended for large black history collections. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)