VIDEO: Beyoncé grants a wish for Brooklyn Author Atiba Clarke
Brooklyn BookBeat: Author to appear at Brooklyn launch party
Atiba Clarke is not your typical Brooklyn author. At just 20 years old, he has undergone sixteen surgeries to combat cerebral palsy, which he was diagnosed with as a baby. Despite being largely confined to a wheelchair, Clarke has resolved not to allow his physical limitations thwart his ambitions. A longtime fan of Beyoncé, he approached his dream to meet the superstar with similar perseverance.
Six years ago, Clarke purchased backstage passes to a Beyoncé concert. Upon his arrival, he learned his name was not on the list. At another concert, he waited for hours outside in the hopes of meeting Beyoncé, but was again unsuccessful.
Eventually, Clarke reached out to Stevie Rutherford, an independent coach who suggested that he share his wisdom and tenacity by writing down his life story. This past summer, the debut author published “Unexpected Words from a Gifted Angel” (released by Tate Publishing), hoping to bring his story to Beyoncé’s attention.