Avenging the Father or The End of Black Harlem Politics

The ongoing political battle between State Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell, IV, and long time Congressman Charlie Rangel, for the 15th Congressional district in New York is constantly pitted as a Shakespearian drama — dipped in chocolate.

Scene 1, Harlem: Adam the IV, the scion of an ousted and shamed political leader, Adam the Jr., returns 40 years later, wild-eyed and blood thirsty, to avenge his father’s political honor by taking out the man who killed his father’s political career. This definitely makes for good political theatrics. Yet the reality is less entertaining but deeply important.

Essentially, we are witnessing the end of the dominance of Black politics in Harlem. In fact we have already been witnessing an end to Black Harlem. The political retirement of Basil Patterson and David Dinkins, the death of Percy Sutton and the fall of Charlie Rangel, the group that comprise the Harlem “Gang of Four,” has given way to a new crop of politicians attempting to represent a new Harlem, where the majority of constituents are increasingly Latino and white.

Interestingly both Adam Powell, IV and Charlie Rangel are Afro-Latino, with Puerto Rican roots and African American heritage. Early on Rangel capitalized on the “Afro” side, as central Harlem became the beacon of Black political power in New York City. When he pushed out Powell, Jr. in 1970, he was already fully identified with the Harlem establishment. Rangel was able to push through important legislation as a member of House Ways and Means, and able to pull down millions in public and private investment, turning Harlem into an Empowerment Zone.

Although “El Barrio” or East Harlem is incorporated into the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, central Harlem with its wealth of cultural institutions, such as the Apollo theater, and 200 year old churches such as the famed Abyssinian Baptist Church where the Powell family reigned, got the lions share of political and financial attention as well as tourist buses. Those in El Barrio always felt Rangel was linked more to “Black Harlem” than Spanish Harlem, and felt the slight in the distribution of funds. In fact the growing Latino populations from Mexico and central and South America have been moving for better political recognition and representation.

In contrast to Rangel, Adam Powell IV represents the 68th New York Assembly District, which covers more of El Barrio. As an incumbent, and former City Councilman, he has always been aligned with the long established and increasingly growing Latino populations, even taking up issues that impact his constituents on the island of Puerto Rico, his birthplace. Yet given the decline of the “Gang of Four” and the tipping Harlem populations, Powell comes across as an insurgent, bringing in new Latino-identified politics that may actually help him garner the vote in September. We will see when the votes are counted.

In final analysis, this is less about long standing vendettas and more about changing politics.

Dr. Noel S. Anderson is Associate Professor of Political Science and Education at the City University of New York - Brooklyn College. His work focuses on urban politics, human development and education and comparative issues in public policy (U.S. and South Africa).

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