In the 1930s, Adam Clayton Powell the fourth was the minister of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City. He was a popular man in Harlem, and was elected to the New York City Council, and later became a Congressman. He became well acquainted with FATHER DIVINE through various contacts with FATHER, but was more or less hostile to HIM at that time.
However, as years rolled by, he was able to see that FATHER DIVINE was not one to be criticized and disparaged, but one to be admired and encouraged. In a letter to FATHER from Miss Peaceful Love in 1955, she said that Rev. Powell was
'....quite different from the Adam Clayton Powell thirty years ago, when he fought only for what he thought was his people. Today, he is more democratic than I realized. He said he is not fighting for any special group, but he wants to see Democracy in action as soon as possible all over the world. . . . So many points he brought out that were so democratic; I felt guilty of misjudging him for a long time. I'm glad YOU have changed him, FATHER darling.'
In FATHER DIVINE'S reply to Miss Peaceful Love, HE wrote:
'Your letter of the 24th is at hand and I AM glad to know that your opinion of Congressman Powell has changed for the good; for it is true that if a person believes in the Principle of real Americanism, Brotherhood, Christianity and true Judaism, which are synonymous, that person would naturally grow in wisdom and in knowledge. That is the reason the Representative Adam Clayton Powell appears to be an entirely different person to you than the minister you knew thirty years ago.
'I have shown many men the Way of real Democracy and true Christianity as I have exemplified it under MY Personal Jurisdiction and Spiritual Jurisdiction throughout the world. Those who were honest and sincere have walked in the Way I have shown them. They have refused to be bound to any so-called race, creed or color, but they have sought to be a true Representative of all the people. . . .
'Thus, the progress you have observed in one individual is representative of the advancement of Democracy throughout the world; for MY Spirit is working in the affairs of all men and nations.'
Both letters are found in the Supplement to THE NEW DAY of September 10, 1955, Pp. 59-60.
An article by the Honorable Reverend Powell appeared in the November, 1951, issue of EBONY Magazine, in which he was speaking on a controversial subject. But he wished to make clear that the criticism in his article was not directed to FATHER DIVINE. He said,
'Right here, I want to make it clear that I am not talking about Father Divine when I refer to cult leaders. There have been a lot of reckless things written and foolish things said about Divine. . . . I personally would refuse to believe any of these fantastic charges.
'For I have had an intimate personal knowledge of him and a deep friendship with him for twenty years, and I am convinced that he is a sincere man who is doing and has done a great good, although I do not subscribe to all his beliefs. The anti-Divine rumors, which have died of utter exhaustion in recent years. . . . as I have said before--all these charges and accusations fell flat on their face.'
Rev. Powell spoke about what a great minister should be. He must live
'the personal and worthy life of a religious leader which should be above suspicion--as FATHER DIVINE'S has been established to be. . . . While many may not agree with Divine's advocacy of eliminating sex from marriage or the quartering of men and women apart from each other, it cannot be said or proven that he has given his followers anything but a worthy example.'
(Supplement to THE NEW DAY, September 10, 1955, P. 59) This was the father of Adam Clayton Powell the fourth. The following article by Earl Caldwell chronicles his recent rise to public office.
'It wasn't just an election. What happened in East Harlem was a turning point. And for Adam Clayton Powell 4th, it could be the start of something big.
'In it there is a lot of history, And that is because of Adam.
'Exactly 50 years ago in New York the Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. stepped into the political arena. He had been leading demonstrations and boycotts in Harlem in the fight for b---- rights. In the battle he felt that his pulpit at Abyssinian Baptist Church was not enough. He found he needed political muscle, and so, he ran and got elected to the City Council.
'When he stepped into that first race, Powell may not have been looking at anything more than a Council seat. But as it turned out, the Council was only the launching ground for what was to become an incredible quarter century in the Congress.
'Now, 50 years later, comes Adam's son. He is tall and has the face of his famous father. What happened lately in East Harlem says that young Adam also has a lot of his father's moxie.
'His City Council race seemed dead. A judge declared William Del Toro the winner, and that was supposed to be the end of that. Only thing was, Adam Powell refused to give up or to give in. In the original primary, he and Del Toro ran neck and neck, with Del Toro winning a 34-vote edge. However, when some 700 voting irregularities were found to have taken place, it was assumed that once the issue got into court, a new election would be ordered.
'It didn't happen that way. Instead, Manhattan State Supreme Court Justice Martin Evans declared Del Toro the winner. Maybe that was when the race in the 8th District really changed. What Justice Evans did outraged people. He said forget the 700 irregularities; Powell had posted legal papers he was serving on Del Toro on the wrong door, and so Del Toro gets the election.
'That next day, Powell was in court. All through the campaign he had made corruption an issue. Just after the primary, he charged the election was stolen. The decision from Justice Evans only strengthened his resolve. Justice Evans may have been right on the law but he forgot about making sure that justice was done. A whole community was infuriated, and the fight was carried to the Appellate Division. There, young Powell prevailed.
'Only problem was, the court allotted only a few days for campaigning. Actually, there was only a day and the weekend. 'Keep the faith, baby,' Adam said, echoing the words of his father.
'One of the unmistakable signs of leadership is demonstrating the ability to take people who are angry about an issue and get them to channel that energy into a positive direction. In the runoff, Powell did that.
'At best, he was not better than even money to beat Del Toro. In East Harlem, the political machine of State Assemblyman Angelo Del Toro rules. It was his younger brother going against Powell. They would pull out all stops. Some said young Adam didn't have a chance.
'As it happened, Powell got a landslide. He won the kind of majority his father used to get in his district. He finished with 73% of the vote.
'What should not be overlooked is the coalition Powell put together: Puerto Ricans, b---- and w-----. On election night, Olga Mendez called it 'a people's victory.' She is a state senator and has been involved in the politics of the community for many years. 'This was strictly the people,' she said. 'No money, no special interests. The people elected him.'
'Then she spoke of young Adam's father. 'The greatest congressman we ever had,' Olga Mendez said.'
The name, Adam Clayton Powell, therefore lives on, this time in the fourth person to bear the name. Perhaps he will walk in the footsteps of his famous father. If he believes in the Principles of Americanism, Brotherhood, Democracy, Christianity and Judaism, as FATHER wrote, he will grow in wisdom and knowledge. Perhaps we shall hear more of Adam Clayton Powell IV.
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