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cover art for From the Archives 19: Adam Clayton Powell, "Keep the Faith, Baby!" (1967)

Ipse Dixit

From the Archives 19: Adam Clayton Powell, "Keep the Faith, Baby!" (1967)

Season 1, Ep. 79
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Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (November 29, 1908 to April 4, 1972) was an American politician, who represented Harlem in the United States House of Representatives from 1945-71. He was the first African-American to represent New York in Congress, and the fourth African-American elected to Congress in the 20th century. He was also a Baptist pastor.

Powell became a prominent leader in the civil rights movement in the 1930s, leading picket lines and boycotts. In 1941, he became the first African-American elected to the New York City Council. In 1944, he was elected to Congress on a civil rights platform. In the 1950s, he became well-known for introducing "Powell Amendments" to legislation, which would deny federal funds to segregated jurisdictions.

In January 1967, the House Democratic Caucus, dominated by southern whites, voted 307 to 116 to exclude Powell from the House, on the basis of corruption allegations. In response, Powell asked his constituents to "Keep the Faith, Baby." He won the special election to fill his seat, and in June 1969, the Supreme Court held in Powell v. McCormack that the House's exclusion of Powell was unconstitutional. However, in 1970, Powell lost his seat to Charles Rangel.

In January 1967, Powell released this LP, responding to his critics. The album is titled, "'Keep the Faith, Baby!", Adam Clayton Powell's Message to the World, Dateline: January 1967, An Exclusive Live Recording."

Side 1:

  1. Keep the Faith, Baby
  2. My Dear Colleagues
  3. Handwriting on the Wall

Side 2:

  1. Burn, Baby, Burn
  2. Death of Any Man
  3. One Day

The album was produced by Jerry and Steve Blaine, and released by Jubilee Records.


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