Answer:
Childhood & Early Life
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was born on November 29, 1908, in New Haven, Connecticut to Adam Clayton Powell Senior and Mattie Buster Shaffer. Both his parents were of mixed racial origin and because of that young Powell was born with light complexion, blond hair and hazel eyes. He also had a sister, named Blanche, ten years his senior.
Immediately after the birth of his son, Adam Clayton Powell Sr. became the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, located at Harlem. Consequently, the family shifted to Harlem and eventually settled there. Though born poor Adam Sr. had worked his way up and consequently, Adam Junior grew up in comfortable surroundings.
Adam Junior passed out from Townsend Harris High School and enrolled at City College of New York. However, he spent much of time having fun and attending nightclubs. Hearing this, his father took him out of the college and put him in Colgate University as a freshman.
Adam Jr. graduated from Colgate University in 1930 with a BA degree. He next joined Columbia University and in 1933, he earned his MA in Religious Education from there. He then joined Shaw University and graduated from there in 1934.
