Adam Clayton Powell IV facts for kids

Adam Clayton "A.C." Powell IV, born in 1962, is an American politician from New York. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 2001 to 2010. Before that, he was a New York City Council Member from 1992 to 1997. He represented areas like East Harlem and parts of the Upper West Side and the South Bronx. In 2010, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives but lost in the primary election.

Early Life and Education

Adam Clayton Powell IV was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His father was Adam Clayton Powell Jr., a famous civil rights leader and former congressman. His mother was Yvette Diago. He was given the name Adam Clayton Powell Diago, following a Spanish tradition of using the mother's last name.

His maternal grandfather, Gonzalo Diago, was the mayor of San Juan from 1941 to 1945. When his parents separated, Adam was raised in Puerto Rico.

In 1980, Powell moved to the United States mainland. He attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. While there, he changed his name to Adam Clayton Powell IV. Later, he earned a law degree from Fordham University School of Law in New York.

Political Career Highlights

Powell began his political career by successfully running for the New York City Council in 1991. This election was very close, and he had to fight for a new election after initially losing by a small number of votes. He won the special election with a large majority.

In 1994, Powell ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. He challenged the long-serving Representative Charles B. Rangel but was not successful. He also ran for Manhattan borough president in 1997 but lost that election too.

Powell also worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In 2001, he took part in protests in Vieques, Puerto Rico. These protests called for the U.S. Navy to leave the island. He was arrested during these protests.

When Charles Rangel retired in 2016, Powell ran for the House seat again. However, he lost to state Senator Adriano Espaillat.

Family Life

Adam Clayton Powell IV was married to Andrea Dial. She was a model for Ebony Fashion Fair. They had a son named Adam Clayton Powell V. They later divorced in the mid-1990s.

Powell also helped produce a TV movie called “Keep the Faith, Baby!” This film was about the life and career of his father, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

See also

• List of Puerto Ricans