Dr. John Henrik Clarke created the Harlem Youth Action Project. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar participated in this program as a youth. In his most recently published book, “Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On And Off The Court,” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, dedicates the book to Dr. Clarke. The book’s dedication states: “This is dedicated to all the young people who value scholarship and the teachers and mentors who sacrifice for them. I especially want to thank Dr. John Henrik Clarke because the Harlem Youth Action Project, which he created, was crucial to me in understanding my path.”