- Directed by
- Noble, Gil, American, 1932 - 2012
- Produced by
- Noble, Gil, American, 1932 - 2012
- Written by
- Noble, Gil, American, 1932 - 2012
- Interview of
- Powell, Adam Clayton Jr., American, 1908 - 1972
- Scott, Hazel, American, 1920 - 1981
- Subject of
- United States Congress, American, founded 1789
- Abyssinian Baptist Church, American, founded 1808
- Upshur, Lillian, American, ca. 1912 - 1985
- X, Malcolm, American, 1925 - 1965
- Dr. King, Martin Luther Jr., American, 1929 - 1968
- James, Esther, American
- Flores, Yvette, Puerto Rican, 1931 - 2016
- Owned by
- D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
- Date
- 1979
- Medium
- acetate film
- Dimensions
- Duration (Reel 1): 21 Minutes
- Length (Film): 750 Feet
- Duration (Reel 2): 29 Minutes
- Length (Film): 1050 Feet
- Caption
- 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.
- Description
- 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.
- Place used
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Place made
- United States, North and Central America
- Place depicted
- Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- DC Public Library Film Collection
- Portfolio/Series
- Like It Is
- Classification
- Time-based Media - Moving Images
- Movement
- Civil Rights Movement
- Topic
- Activism
- Baptist
- Civil rights
- Documentary films
- Film
- Housing
- Men
- Politics
- Preaching
- Profile films
- Public television
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2017.55.11.1ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




