Page "Adam Clayton Powell, Jr." Paragraph 22

He also paid attention to the issues of developing nations in Africa and Asia, making trips overseas and urging presidential policymakers to pay attention to nations seeking independence from colonial powers and support aid to them.

During the Cold War, many of them sought neutrality between the United States and the Soviet Union.

He made speeches on the House Floor to celebrate the anniversaries of the independence of nations such as Ghana, Indonesia, and Sierra Leone.

In addition, Powell, against the State Department's advice which preferred to ignore the event, attended the Asian – African Conference in 1955 as an observer.

Once there, Powell made a positive international impression in public addresses that balanced his concerns of his nation's race relations problems with a spirited defense of the United States as a whole against Communist criticisms.

Powell returned to the USA to a warm bipartisan reception for his performance and was invited to speak with President Dwight Eisenhower.

With this influence, Powell suggested to the State Department that the current manner of competing with the Soviet Union in the realm of fine arts such as international symphony orchestra and ballet company tours was ineffective.

Instead, he advised that the USA should focus on the popular arts such as sponsoring international tours of famous jazz musicians, which could draw attention to an indigenous American artform with artists who often performed in mixed race bands.

The State Department approved the idea and the first such tour with Dizzy Gillespie proved to be an outstanding success abroad and prompted similarly popular tours with other musicians for years.