In
an effort to honor African-American alumni from each of the nine
schools affiliated with the America East, the conference is putting
together a nine-part video series featuring one prominent
African-American alum from each school. This video series highlights the
great history and success that African-American graduates from America
East schools have had and also displays the variety of different jobs
and backgrounds that these alumni have made an impact on after
graduation.
In the final video segment of the Black History Month
celebration, University of Maine alum (Class of 1955) Clayton Sinclair Jr. is
featured. Following his graduation from Maine, Sinclair has worked as an
attorney and received a law degree from Howard University.
While his work as an attorney has been well-documented,
Sinclair Jr. and his family are best known for Rock Rest, which was an inn for
African-American professionals travelling through the Kittery Point, Maine
area. With many African-Americans wanting to travel throughout Maine and the
Northeast, Sinclair Jr. and his family provided a warm bed, delicious food and
an open heart to all guests who wished to stop by Rock Rest.
Through working at Rock Rest, Sinclair Jr. was given the
opportunity to interact with African-American professionals and learn the
importance of education. This knowledge is something that Sinclair has passed
down to his children and a belief he still holds strong to this day.