Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

Interview

On October 6th 1965 I sat down with a famous civil rights activist, Adam
Clayton Powell Jr.
Adam was born on November 29th 1908 in New Haven Connecticut. Adam
moved to New York where Adams father took the position of a clergy at Abyssinian
Baptist Church. Adam said he started going by Powell Jr because of his father. This
church had famous background with African Americans. Adam says he went to
church like a normal child would according to him. When Adam turned 18 he
enrolled in a city college in New York. He later then transferred to Colgate University
in Hamilton, New York. Adam graduated in 1930 but that wasnt enough for him.
He wanted to follow in his fathers footsteps with the church. In 1932 Adam
graduated was a masters degree in religious education. This still was not enough
for Adam he later continued his love for learning and attended Shaw University.

Adam got married in 1933 to Isabell Washington. After a short period of time
the couple got divorced. Adam married and divorced another two times. While
Adam was in school he also worked with the church that his father worked. His job
was to be an assistant pastor and help was the business. Adam loved the church so
much that when his father stopped being the pastor of the church he took over in
1937. In this year he also started with Harlem activists for the community. In 1941
adam got a seat on the new York city council. He was the first African American to
be given a seat. As you can imagine this didnt sit well council workers. In 1945 he
took a seat at the democratic side of the House of Representatives. Adam served
12 terms. Adams biggest accomplishments was putting an end to the Jim Crow Laws
and the hanging in South Carolina.

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Interview