Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
American, 1908 - 1972
BiographyAdam Clayton Powell, Jr. was a Baptist pastor, politician, member of the House of Representatives, and former husband to actress and singer Isabel Geraldine Washington (1908-2007).
Born in 1908 in New Haven, Connecticut, Powell, Jr. was the son of Yale graduate Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., a Virginia-born pastor who developed the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York. Following a similar path to that of his father, Adam earned a Bachelor's degree at Colgate University, and in 1931 earned a Master's in religious education from Columbia University.
Adam's early career accomplishments include his push to open doors for black professionals as chairman of the Coordinating Committee for Employment, following his father's leadership at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, and founding the black newspaper "People's Voice" (est. 1945), which elaborated on politics, economics, and social issues for the black community. The newspaper's many contributors included Adam's sister-in-law, actress Fredi Washington (1903-1994).
On March 8, 1933, Adam married his first wife, Isabel Geraldine Washington, in New York, and they remained together until 1945.
Adam married twice more, to actress and pianist Hazel Scott (1945-1960), and then to Yvette Flores Diago (1960-1965), and had one son from each marriage.
Adam served and represented New York in the House of Representatives from 1945-1971. His many achievements while in office included advocating for fair employment and taxes for African Americans, peaceable race relations between Asia, Africa and the United States; and participating in the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. died on April 4, 1972 in Miami, Florida.
Born in 1908 in New Haven, Connecticut, Powell, Jr. was the son of Yale graduate Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., a Virginia-born pastor who developed the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York. Following a similar path to that of his father, Adam earned a Bachelor's degree at Colgate University, and in 1931 earned a Master's in religious education from Columbia University.
Adam's early career accomplishments include his push to open doors for black professionals as chairman of the Coordinating Committee for Employment, following his father's leadership at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, and founding the black newspaper "People's Voice" (est. 1945), which elaborated on politics, economics, and social issues for the black community. The newspaper's many contributors included Adam's sister-in-law, actress Fredi Washington (1903-1994).
On March 8, 1933, Adam married his first wife, Isabel Geraldine Washington, in New York, and they remained together until 1945.
Adam married twice more, to actress and pianist Hazel Scott (1945-1960), and then to Yvette Flores Diago (1960-1965), and had one son from each marriage.
Adam served and represented New York in the House of Representatives from 1945-1971. His many achievements while in office included advocating for fair employment and taxes for African Americans, peaceable race relations between Asia, Africa and the United States; and participating in the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. died on April 4, 1972 in Miami, Florida.
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