The Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation is an organization that I established in February, 2005, for the sole purpose of bringing both Historical and Memorial Distinction to my father, the late Wilkie Clark.

Simply put, The Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation’s mission is to serve as a microcosm of his life.   My goal was to honor my dad’s life and contributions by continuing to impact Roanoke/Randolph County’s African American progress and movement toward our ultimate goal of complete liberation from all the social ills that were brought to bear upon local blacks.

You might ask… Why a foundation?

Because in my 50+ years on this earth, no single person did more for people in a community than Wilkie Clark did.  No single person had the courage — I dare say, the unmitigated gall — to go as far as he did to do the things he did, in the sometimes imposing way that he did them.   For that reason and that reason alone, HE DESERVES to be remembered.  And not just by African Americans… BUT  especially by African Americans, because he was such a vigorous and outspoken champion for their causes.  Thus, the Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation.

Because I cannot tell you EVERYTHING he undertook on one page of a single blog, I would like to recommend that you purchase his biography entitled Chief Cook and Bottle-Washer the Unconquerable Soul Of Wilkie Clark, which was my own personal attempt to “write him into” the history and weave him into the complicated fabric of our neighborhood.

Why is he so significant?

Because we are living in a time where human qualities such as unselfishness, compassion for fellowman, community awareness, and humanity, are mere words that have little impact in our lives, because we see so few real life examples of them.

It’s hard to put into words, but after reading my book, Reginald Sinclair Lewis, a prisoner on Pennsylvania’s death row wrote a stirring reaction to my dad’s biography, and I’d like to invite you to read it.   He captures my father almost completely:    Click this link to read Sinclair’s Review.