But the work done by Clement Alexander Price s academic enterprise in Newark cuts straight to the heart. Let me say, it s essential. People up against pressure focus quite a bit on the past. It becomes a source of inspiration and strength. With his institute, Price tries to share the riches of the past across the board, involving all racial and ethnic groups in a quest for meaning.
Price is a prominent expert on African-American history.
He has written two significant books, authored many articles, lectures constantly and is a highly regarded teacher of the subject. But his commitment is broad, not just deep. The institute s major conclave, held in November 1997, was a public conference on memories of the Newark race riots 30 years before. We tapped into the really strong emotion just beneath the surface, and for many of us it s not too strong to say the experience was transforming, spiritually uplifting at the same time, it was intellectually sound. Since then, the institute s programs, panels and symposia have drawn nearly 5,000 attendees.