REVIEWS of Dr. Kwaku's Books:

On My Journey Now

First Word
 

Words From the 'Dean of Black Historians'

By Joe Nazel, L.A. Watts Times:
 

On My Journey Now, The Narrative and Works of

Dr. John Henrik Clarke

Scholar, historian, researcher John Henrik Clarke, during his eight decades on earth, spread historic knowledge like fertile kernels destined to mature into mighty oaks of wisdom and enlightenment. In "On My Journey Now: The Narrative and Works of Dr. Henrik Clarke "The Knowledge Revolutionary," published after Clarke's death, the historian shares his brilliance opening windows ?to history seldom told or appreciated. Though the title is more than a mouthful, in keeping with the style of the academic publisher that is now celebrating his work, "On My Journey Now" is hardly a study presented in obtuse academese. It is truly a personal and intimate reading experience.

Throughout the narrative, Clarke ís carefully chosen words and observations, well founded in research, shine the powerful light of truth into the darkest corners of American, African and world history.

Clarke says: "My goal has been to write clearly about the age in which I live, to such an extent, that at least a hundred years from now people can pick up a book I wrote and have a clear picture about the period in which I lived, through what I've said about my people's plight."
 

His words rifle through the dank, locked closets and attics of history to set things straight and put historic treasures in proper order and perspective.

"The role of history is to tell a people where they have been, w hat they have been, where they are, and what they are," according to Clarke. "The most important role of history is to tell a people where they still must go and what they still must do."

"On My Journey Now," written by Dr. Kwaku Person-Lynn from a series of seven interviews with Clarke, known worldwide as the "Dean of Black Historians," was published in a special edition of "The Journal of Pan African Studies," edited by Dr. David L. Horne. Published by California State University, Northridge's Department of Pan African Studies, "On My Journey Now" also contains articles by noted scholars on Afro-centric topics, including Dr. Theophile Obenga, Dr. Maghan Keita and Legrand Clegg II.
 

In the foreword to "On My Journey Now," actor Wesley Snipes, a former student of Clarke's who produced the "A Great and Mighty Walk" documentary on the historian, writes: " Öne day I went to see a teacher and found an African man. I found the Sacred Oracle, right here in Harlem Ö John Henrik Clarke."

Clarke, the Sacred Oracle, devoted his life to not only researching, verifying and validating the role of blacks in world history, but also teaching that history through his lectures, speeches and writings.

"Looking back on my life from a teenager to 80 years old, probably the greatest feat I am proud of is, I've kept my promise," said Clarke in his final days. "I have not betrayed the people or betrayed my words."

He was committed to his work to the very end, saying in his last interview with Person-Lynn, "I think that my work is so unfinished and I am so unready to leave."

Though he may have left us, feeling he had much more to do, Clarke left a legacy worth treasuring his words in print.

"On My Journey Now" is the second book by Dr. Kwaku Person-Lynn, who also wrote "First Word: Black Scholars, Thinkers, Warriors," based on interviews with a number of prominent black scholars.

First Word: An Update

The book First Word: Black Scholars Thinkers Warriors is currently out of print. The publisher (Harlem River Press) had every plan of releasing the book in paperback after successfully selling out of the hardcover. After going through several business adjustments, the publisher (Glenn Thompson) made his transition. I was able to have the paperback rights reverted back to me before his passing. As soon as a suitable publisher is found, or the possibility of publishing the book myself, you will be notified. Thank you for your patience.

John Henrik Clarke Being told that God is love and merciful, that the Bible is God's book, I could not believe that a loving and merciful God left an entire people out of his book.
 

Ivan Van Sertima Christopher Columbus, himself, was the first person to suggest there were Blacks in America before him.
 

Yosef ben-Jochannan Judaism, Christianity and Islam are outgrowths of principles laid down by the Afrikans along the Nile.
 

Frances Cress Welsing If you conquer and oppress a people, develop negative images about them, and project those negative images, you are teaching the people to be in hate with themselves and to love that which is dominant.
 

William LaRue Dillard Before the rise of white supremacy, Black was not a problem in the Bible until Europe, prejudice, slave masters and their brainwashing, and Bible translators who distorted the Holy Scriptures.
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Asa Hilliard III To talk about self-esteem as the only reason for looking at the curriculum, makes us ignore the fact that for almost 400 years, especially the last 200, there was extreme neglect, and in some cases, acute dishonesty in the curriculum.
 

Robert A. Hill? Ethiopians spiritual sovereignty and the doctrine of land and liberty is what precipitated what we call today, Rastafarianism.
 

Debra Maat Moore Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus were all created in Afrika.
 

Naim Akbar As Afrikan American psychologists, we began to ask the question, How can we be more effective human beings?, and found that Freud, Skinner and Maslow did not have the answer.
 

The Honorable MinisterLouis Farrakhan The government is behind the assassination of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., the false charges against MarcusGarvey, and the exiling of W.E.B. DuBois.

Barbara Sizemore School is responsible for teaching children their basic skills: how to read, write, understand mathematics, but the school is not doing that because it says that children of color cannot be taught.
 

Kwame Ture Once the slogan Black Power came out flying, even though the press did everything possible, with the political structure and all the Uncle Toms to stop it, they could not stop it.

Leonard Jeffries When the first models of the Statue of Liberty were built, they were an Afrikan woman holding the chains of enslavement in her hand and at her feet.

Contact:  Dr. Kwaku Person-Lynn Box 2946, Inglewood, CA 90305  |  word@drkwaku.com