Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.: The Political Biography of an American Dilemma (Paperback)

~ Charles V Hamilton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A balanced and dynamic portrait of the controversial mid-century congressman from Harlem. Photos.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Powell (1908-72) fused a complex mix of temperament and tactics into a discomforting, loud leadership of racial protest that insistently exposed the gap between American principle and performance, argues Hamilton. Probing Powell's rise and fall, Hamilton moves from the 1930s, when Powell became a New York City councilman, to his service starting in 1945 as a U.S. Representative, and then to his chairing of the House Education and Labor Committee, his expulsion from the House in 1967, and his defeat at the polls in 1970. Hamilton's able analysis of the unapologetic, openly arrogant champion of civil rights reflects the race issues of the day within a prism of political theory focused on the conflict of basic American values like majority rule and minority rights. This book is essential for any serious collection on black biography, civil rights, or political analysis. Highly recommended. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/91.
- Thomas J. Davis, Univ. at Buffalo, N.Y.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Cooper Square Press (February 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815411847
• ISBN-13: 978-0815411840
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #855,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dark Side of Adam Clayton Powell, December 3, 2005

By	Cecelia E Connally (Cleveland, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Charles V. Hamilton calls his biography of Adam Clayton Powell, Jrs. THE POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY OF AN AMERICAN DILEMMA. The American dilemma that he refers to is Gunnar Myrdal's 1944 thesis. Myrdal concluded taht American society possess a strong belief in liberty, equality, respect for law and democracy but when it comes to blacks, those same values do not always apply. So the society says one thing and does another as it relates to blacks and other minorities. Hamilton argues that this "blatant contradiction in American society between the Creed and reality was constantly highlighted by white and black advocates of civil rights." In Adam Clayton Powell, Hamilton finds the personification of this dilemma. He asserts that Powell made that dilemma the main issue of his public life. As a result, Powell's constant attempts to raisse and challege America's dilemma is the theme that Hamilton uses to portray his subject.

For students of Powell who may have read Wil Haygood's KING OF THE CATS, Hamilton's portrayal is much different. As the title implies, Hamilton primarily sticks to the political side of Powell's career while Haygood presents a much more personal account of the preacher/congressman. While I came away from the Haygood work feeling attached and sympathetic of Powell, I came away from Hamilton's work realizing that Powell had an extremely dark side and that many of his problmes were self inflicted. In addiiton, for the serious students, Hamilton's footnotes are invaluable.

One of Hamilton's major arguments is that Powell endorsed Eisenhower in 1956 in the hopes of stopping further IRS and FBI investigations of his personal finances. He also makes it clear that Powell had access to the White House during the Eisenhower administration, something that he did not have with Truman. Of course, he had created his own persona non grata status with the Turman White House when he attempted to have his wife, Hazel Scott perform at the DAR hall in Washington. It seems that Powell was attempting to do another "Marian Anderson" event and failed. One can easily conclude that Powell enjoyed the access he had with Ike's staff and figured that Sstevenson was not going to win anyway, so Powell feathered his own nest. While he wanted the poublic to believe his endorsement was for the sake of Stevenson's poor stand on Civil Rights, it is more likely that Powell enjoyed and wanted to continue his access to power.

Hamilton relates how Powell threatened to expose Bayard Rustin and Martin Luther King for an alleged homosexual relationship in order to force them to call off a demonstration at the Republican National Convention in 1960. Powell knew full well the accusations were false but the blackmail served his purpose.

In 1966 Powell scuttled an attempt by James Farmer of CORE to establish a national literacy project. Hamilton argues that in return, Powell hoped to be given White House assistance in having his New York libel judgment reduced.

As does Haygood, and Powell himself in his autobiography ADAM BY ADAM, Hamilton demonstrates how Powell made one of the worse decisions of his life in ignoring the libel suit brought against him by a New York woman that he referred to as a "bag woman." The eventual legal repercussions from the law suit (Powell refused to even show up at the trial) along with Ppowell's flagrant disregard for his congressional duties, excessive spending of congressional funds and egotistical and sometimes hedonistic life style all conributed to his demise. And when he needed the support of other civil rights leaders, who who had been victims of his wrath while he ws in power, they where not there for him as his power wained.

As the sage progresess and Powell gets closer and closer to the time that Congress refuses to seat him, the reader realizes that when Powell pointed the finger of racism at his attackers, as the old saying goes, he was pointing four fingers back at himself.

Oscar DePriest was the first black person elected to Congress in the 20th Century. But Powell was really the first black congressman that African Americans nationwide identified with. He came to congress driving a Jaguar in 1944, wearing $500 suits and looking like a movie star. He became the voice of Black America in congress, especially in the area of desegregation of the military. But his Powell Amendment had its good sides and its bad. While it raised the issue of unequal treatment, it also resulted in the defeat of legislation that would have been beneficial to Black America.

Powell's final demise was no doubt self inflictd. In the final years of his career he midjudged the reapportionment process allowing for a change in his district. Times change and voters change and eventually his base of support eroded. His religious base eroded. With his life syle it seems hard to imagine that he could be identified with the church. Harlem residents realized tht they needed a congressman, not an aging symbol of the past fishing in Bimini. As Hamilton points out, if Powell had fought before for final election defeat as much as he did after the defeat in attempts to get recounts and court battles over the election, he probably would have won.

Adam Clayton Powell died in 1972. It took almost 20 years for historians to write serious biographies of his life. Hamilton's contribution is excellent and well worth the read, not only for the life of Adam Clayton Powell, but for a history of America during the 20th century.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exploration of a fascinating figure., August 3, 2000

By	Eric V. Moye (New York, by way of Dallas) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Adam Clayton Powell Junior the Political Biography of an American Dilemma (Paperback)

Hamilton has done an extraordinary job with one of America's most enigmatic political figures. Representative Powell was a man hard to figure by anybody. A rascal, decried as a corrupt politician, loved by his constituents and vilified by much of the establishment.

Powell was one of the century's (I guess that is now "last century's") first and longest serving African American members of Congress. He was on the forefront of the campaign against lynching. He brought the moral imperative of the Freedom Rides and the lunch counter sitins going on in the South to the major urban areas of the North.

His position as a vociferous champion of civil rights (more than his indiscretions) led his colleagues in the House to try to oust him. When his constituents rejected this initiative and overwhelmingly returned him to Congress, he had to go the the Supreme Court for his right to continue service (even after being stripped of his seniority.

Great history, and great reading. A thoroughly engaging subject. Even as an out-of-print book it is well worth waiting for.