Like It Is: Adam Clayton Powell; An Autobiographical Documentary: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

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.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1979
• Directed by: Gil Noble, American, 1932 - 2012
• Produced by: Gil Noble, American, 1932 - 2012
• Written by: Gil Noble, American, 1932 - 2012
• Interview of: Adam Clayton Powell Jr., American, 1908 - 1972
• Interview of: Hazel Scott, American, 1920 - 1981
• Subject of: United States Congress, American, founded 1789
• Subject of: Abyssinian Baptist Church, American, founded 1808
• Subject of: Lillian Upshur, American, ca. 1912 - 1985
• Type: interviews
• Type: sound films
• Type: color films (visual works)
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: acetate film
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 1): 21 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 750 Feet
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 2): 29 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 1050 Feet
• 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
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Activism
• Topic: Baptist
• Topic: Civil Rights
• Topic: Documentary films
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Housing
• Topic: Men
• Object number: 2017.55.11.1ab
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.