Explore Black History

1979

This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.

A 16mm motion picture film of an episode of the television series Like It Is. The episode is titled "Adam Clayton Powell: An Autobiographical Documentary" and consists of two reels of 16mm color acetate film with optical sound.
Through the use of interviews interspersed with archival footage, the documentary profiles the life and career of Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr., New York's first black congressman and the second black man to be elected to the United States Congress after Reconstruction. It opens with Rev. Powell delivering a sermon to his congregation at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, before segueing to an interview between Powell and filmmaker Gil Noble. The men discuss issues such as Rev. Powell's early years as the son of a Baptist preacher and attending preparatory school for high-achieving students before pursuing a bachelor's degree at Colgate University. Congressman Powell then comments on considering attending Harvard's medical school after his tenure at Colgate but ultimately deciding not to attend as he felt compelled to pursue a life of ministry. The discussion then shifts to his early activism: picketing for better jobs and housing for his parishioners in Harlem and his work with A. Philip Randolph redistricting Harlem as a congressional district.
The documentary also includes interview clips with Powell's second wife, Hazel Scott. Mrs. Scott describes their early years courting as archival footage of their wedding in Connecticut appears on the screen. Much of the rest of the documentary focuses on Rev. Powell's work as a congressman, such as his work on the war on poverty; his role in international affairs with footage of him attending the Bandung Conference (Asian-African Conference); his efforts to bring prominent members of the African American community to his church, this includes footage of Malcolm X addressing the Abyssinian congregation and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. commenting on the Rhodesian conflict.
The final segments of the documentary discuss Rev. Powell's later political years. This includes the United States Treasury Department's investigations into his alleged tax evasion; the Esther James controversy and concomitant libel lawsuit; the accusations of his misuse of congressional funds and removal from congress, as well as his successful efforts to challenge these in the United States Supreme Court. The film closes with Rev. Powell delivering a sermon on the importance of political franchise, using an analogy about George Washington Carver to elucidate his point.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

DC Public Library Film Collection

Like It Is

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Civil Rights Movement

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2017.55.11.1ab

interviews
sound films
color films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)

Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

acetate film

Duration (Reel 1): 21 Minutes
Length (Film): 750 Feet
Duration (Reel 2): 29 Minutes
Length (Film): 1050 Feet

Title • Like It Is: Adam Clayton Powell; An Autobiographical Documentary

nmaahc_2017.55.11.1ab

NMAAHC

LIKE IT IS: ADAM CLAYTON POWELL; AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTARY

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1970s

King, Martin Luther • Flores, Yvette • D.C. Public Library • X, Malcolm • Noble, Gil • United States Congress • Scott, Hazel • James, Esther • Abyssinian Baptist Church • Powell, Adam Clayton • Upshur, Lillian

New York City • District of Columbia • Harlem • New York County • United States • North and Central America • Washington

Profile films • Activism • Public television • Preaching • Civil Rights • Civil rights • Politics • Housing • Documentary films

Baptists • African Americans

City • Washington • State • District of Columbia • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • Locale • Harlem • City • New York City • County • New York County • State • New York

color films (visual works) • 16mm (photographic film size) • sound films • Interviews

Restrictions Likely