Cheryl Clarke
Cheryl Clarke | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cheryl Lynn Clarke May 16, 1947 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Education | Howard University (BA) Rutgers University, New Brunswick (MA, MSW, PhD) |
| Occupation(s) | Poet, essayist, educator and community activist |
| Years active | 1940s–present |
| Spouse | Barbara Balliet |
| Relatives | Breena Clarke (sister) |
Cheryl L. Clarke (born Washington D.C., May 16, 1947) is an American lesbian poet, essayist, educator, and Black feminist community activist. Her scholarship focuses on African-American women's literature, black lesbian feminism, and the Black Arts Movement in the United States.
For more than 40 years, Clarke was founding Director of Diverse Community Affairs and Lesbian/Gay Concerns, later the Office of Social Justice Education and LBT Communities, at Rutgers University. She maintains a teaching affiliation with the Graduate Faculty of the Department of Women and Gender Studies, though retired. In addition, Clarke serves on the board of the Newark Pride Alliance.