Dr. Clarke came to New York via Chicago and then he enlisted in the army and earned the rank of Master Sergeant. He then selected Harlem as his laboratory where he searched for the true history of his people. Dr. John Henrik Clarke studied with the famed scholar Arturo A. Schomburg. Dr. Clarke traveled through out Africa befriended and hosted such towering figures as Marcus Garvey, Kwane Nkrumah, and Malcolm X. He founded many organizations like; Harlem's Writers Guild, Freedomways, Presence Africane, African Heritage Studies Association, Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, National Council of Black Studies, and Association for the Study of Classical African Civilization.

Dr. Clarke wrote many songs and short stories. He also published many books, essays, and book introductions. Through the United Nations, he published monographs on Paul Robeson and W.E.B DuBois; and published a memoirs on Christopher Columbus, and the African Holocaust. One of his most painful projects was "Who Betrayed The African Revolution?".

He was happy with his achievements as a teacher at Cornell University and at Hunter College for his work on African and Puerto Rican Studies. He made an early commitment to transfer his library to Black Institutions in an effort to demonstrate his unlimited trust and respect to the black community; where he has donated a majority of his books and documents. With his work in the Schomburg Library many hope that they can reveal their true history and uncover the lies. Dr. John Henrik Clarke touched many lives with his works and so they attribute him with documentaries like John Henrik Clarke- a Great and Mighty Walk (Produced by Wesley Snipes). This is one of many documentaries that help African-Americans and others to understand the past. Dr. Clarke always assured his mission had been to deliver a message of renewal, redemption and rededication for young people all over the world and hopes the walk has afforded him that claim.