<I>Like It Is: Adam Clayton Powell; An Autobiographical Documentary </I>
date: label: Date
content: 1979
name: label: Directed by
content: Gil Noble, American, 1932 - 2012
label: Produced by
content: Gil Noble, American, 1932 - 2012
label: Written by
content: Gil Noble, American, 1932 - 2012
label: Interview of
content: Adam Clayton Powell Jr., American, 1908 - 1972
label: Interview of
content: Hazel Scott, American, 1920 - 1981
label: Subject of
content: United States Congress, American, founded 1789
label: Subject of
content: Abyssinian Baptist Church, American, founded 1808
label: Subject of
content: Lillian Upshur, American, ca. 1912 - 1985
label: Subject of
content: Malcolm X, American, 1925 - 1965
label: Subject of
content: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., American, 1929 - 1968
label: Subject of
content: Esther James, American
label: Subject of
content: Yvette Flores, Puerto Rican, 1931 - 2016
label: Owned by
content: D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
notes: label: Caption
content: 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.
label: Description
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.
label: Description
content: 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.
label: Description
content: 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.
label: Description
content: 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: label: Place used
content: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
label: Place made
content: United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Harlem, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Activism
label: Topic
content: Baptist
label: Topic
content: Civil Rights
label: Topic
content: Documentary films
label: Topic
content: Film
label: Topic
content: Housing
label: Topic
content: Men
label: Topic
content: Politics
label: Topic
content: Preaching
label: Topic
content: Profile films
label: Topic
content: Public television
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Collection title
content: DC Public Library Film Collection
label: Portfolio/Series
content: Like It Is
label: Classification
content: Time-based Media - Moving Images
label: Movement
content: Civil Rights Movement
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2017.55.11.1ab
objectType: label: Type
content: interviews
label: Type
content: sound films
label: Type
content: color films (visual works)
label: Type
content: 16mm (photographic film size)
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: acetate film
label: Dimensions
content: Duration (Reel 1): 21 Minutes
label: Dimensions
content: Length (Film): 750 Feet
label: Dimensions
content: Duration (Reel 2): 29 Minutes
label: Dimensions
content: Length (Film): 1050 Feet