The Work of Dr. Kenneth Clark

Kenneth Clark once revealed a special insight into himself when he was approaching his sixtieth birthday (July 24, 1974) that still holds true today: “If I were my most severe critic,” he wrote, The point I would make against Kenneth Clark is that he really is uncompromising in his belief that human beings should not be characterized on the basis of arbitrary things such as skin color and treated differently. Any form of differential treatment of human beings on arbitrary grounds is unacceptable to his concept of basic humanity and the requirement of dignity. Now, that is a far out position, but that is the position which I’ll keep until I go to my grave.

Nadine Strossen
Dr. Kenneth Clark, longtime chair of the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Advisory Council, has been a lifelong champion of the ACLU’s signature mission: to protect all fundamental freedoms for all people. Although he is best known for his historic role in the fight against African-American apartheid, his work reflects his passionate commitment to liberty and equality for everyone. His prolific writings powerfully convey his dedication to the defense of human rights. His words are particularly inspiring now, given the enormous threats to civil rights and liberties in the “war on terrorism.”

Hugh Price
Dr. Kenneth Clark was a giant among scholars. His research and writings deeply influenced generations of protégés in academia. More important, his work helped provide the intellectual arguments and evidentiary basis for outlawing segregation once and for all. Precious few scholars ever reach that pinnacle of impacting society to such a degree.

Eleanor Holmes Norton
I think of ken as a friend with a glorious wit, on the one hand, and on the other hand, I regard him as one of the most important public intellectuals of the twentieth century. He set the pace. Think what Kenneth Clark wrote and what has happened since. He is the godfather of all the children’s organizations-all who are today trying to put children first. Children were not at the top of our nation’s list when Kenneth Clark was trying to place them there.

Gregory H. Williams
Kenneth Clark was a giant, in the academy and outside of it. As a scholar raised in a nation scarred by the divisive and disabling consequences of slavery and racism, he contributed immeasurably to America’s understanding of itself. His scholarly research shed new light not only on “black” and “white” but on the human condition. That contributed inestimably to the long and arduous healing process. I am pleased to claim both a professional and a personal connection to Dr. Clark.

Rev Calvin O. Butts III
Kenneth Clark was a hands-on intellectual whose power had a profound impact on the progress of people of African descent. He helped all Americans come to grips with the issues of race and poverty. He recognized the important role the church plays. Thank god for the work that he did.

Alvin F. Poussaint
Dr. Kenneth Clark is without peer; he is a role model and inspiration to young black scholars and professionals around the world. Widely recognized for his groundbreaking doll studies that provided major support for the 1954 Supreme Court desegregation decision, Dr. Clark, as a scholar and public intellectual, has effectively advanced the cause of social justice. Following example, I –like many others in academia-became an activist on behalf of African Americans. Dr. Clark’s historic contributions have given breadth to America's promise of democracy; generations to come will be enriched by his legacy.

Johnnetta B. Cole
For over fifty years, Dr. Kenneth B. Clark has put his scholarship in the service of his people and in the interest of a more just and equitable world. He has helped us to better understand the damaging consequences of racism, especially on young children, and he has actively participated in efforts to attack that destructive system of inequality. Anyone who believes in freedom and equality for all peoples is in his debt.

Marian Wright Edelman
Dr. Clark’s early research on how black children internalized negative connotations of blackness was both groundbreaking and heartbreaking. His findings put American society to shame. Dr. Clark was also one of the first scholars to warn white parents that racial prejudice and the destructive cycles of fear, hatred, and guilt connected with it were having a psychological impact on their own children, too. His focus on prejudice’s effect on children was a powerful wake-up call that got American adults attention. And his challenge to all adults to do something about it-if they truly wanted to raise their own children to be humane and stable adults in a civilized democracy—helped change American history.

Lawrence Plotkin
Kenneth B. Clark was in the forefront of the civil rights movement for over fifty years. He was a scholar and activist who served as a model to a new generation of researchers. He fought for desegregation in education and housing as well as the demolition of stereotypes. The outstanding characteristic of his personality was his persistence. Clark never stopped fighting for the full participation of African Americans into American society. His special focus, however, was the lives of black children, especially their education. There were significant victories and some defeats, but Kenneth never stopped trying. Clark’s research, publications, and public appearances painted a picture of the kind of world we will eventually reach. He also diagnosed the personal and institutional racism that had to be overcome. What always amazed me is that he rarely lost his temper. The anger he felt was always internalized.