OLIVIA ROBINSON: Visiting the Adam Clayton Powell Monument (+2 Points)

 Visiting the Adam Clayton Powell Monument (+2 Points)

Over break, I took the time to travel up to Harlem, NY, and visit the Adam Clayton Powell Jr Monument. The monument is a public art display by artist Branly Cadet, living in the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building. Just one block down from the famous Apollo Theater, the monument’s location is a tribute to the truth of Powell Jr.’s legacy as political representation for the neighborhood from the years 1945 to 1971. The side of the statue reads “Keep the Faith,” a call to his famous speech in which he urged the people of Harlem, black and white, to keep hope through their struggle for better jobs, education, and access to health care. With a closer look, the phrase is outlined with Powell Jr’s accomplishments as the first African-American to represent New York in Congress and a civil rights activist. This piece is a reminder of the power of representation and the lasting impact of Black political leadership within historically marginalized communities. 

• Olivia Robinson CO’29