LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 39th anniversary of the death
of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., and paying tribute to his life and accom-
plishments

WHEREAS, From time to time we take note of certain individuals who we
wish to recognize for their valued contributions and to publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
acknowledge the death of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., and to pay tribute to
his life and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. was born November 29, 1908, in New
Haven, Connecticut, son of Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., a Baptist minister
and pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem neighborhood
of New York City; and
WHEREAS, Following his graduation from high school, Adam Clayton
Powell, Jr. conducted his undergraduate studies at both the City College
of New York and Colgate University, and received a Master of Arts degree
in religious education from Columbia University in 1931; he was a member
of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity; and
WHEREAS, In the 1930s, during "The Great Depression" Adam Clayton
Powell, Jr. emerged as a prominent civil rights leader in Harlem due in
large part to his activism and advocacy for jobs and housing for Afri-
can-Americans; and
WHEREAS, As chairman of the Coordinating Committee for Employment, he
organized rent strikes, and public campaigns to force local private and
public companies including Harlem Hospital to hire African-American
employees; and
WHEREAS, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. succeeded his father as Pastor of
the Abyssinian Baptist Church in 1937; in 1939, he organized a picket
line at the New York World Fair's offices which resulted in an increase
in the number of African-American employees from 200 to more than 700;
in 1941, he was the first African-American to be elected to the New York
City Council; and
WHEREAS, In 1944, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., became the first black
Congressman from the state of New York as well as any Northern state
with the exception of Illinois; after becoming Congressman Adam Clayton
Powell, Jr., he challenged informal segregation on Capitol Hill; and
WHEREAS, In 1961, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. became Chairman of the
Education and Labor Committee; during his tenure as Chairman of the
Education and Labor Committee, he supervised federal programs for
increasing and expanding minimum wage, equality in pay for women, educa-
tion for the deaf, nursing education, vocational training, standards for
wages and work hours, and aid for elementary and secondary education;
and
WHEREAS, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. was vital in promulgating legis-
lation that made lynching a federal crime, desegregated schools and
challenged the practice of charging African-Americans a poll tax to vote
in the southern states; and
WHEREAS, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.'s commitment to racial equality and
equality for all individuals influenced the enactment in numerous bene-
ficial laws; and
WHEREAS, On April 4, 1972, following a brief illness, Adam Clayton
Powell, Jr. passed away at the age of 63; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the anniversary of the death of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.,
and to pay tribute to his life and accomplishments; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the New York State Black, Puerto Rican and Hispanic Legisla-
tive Caucus, and to the family of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.