Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (1908-1972) succeeded his father as Pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in 1938 and represented Harlem as its congressman from 1945 to 1971.

In just a few days, it’ll be the 109th birthday of Adam Clayton Powell Jr., born on Nov. 29, 1908. Not only was he the first Black Congressman from New York, having been elected in 1945, he ...