Rodney N. Powell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1935 (age 89–90) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Education | Saint Joseph's University Meharry Medical College |
| Known for | LGBTQ rights andCivil Rights advocacy |
| Spouse | Gloria Johnson (div. 1975) |
| Partner | Bob Eddinger |
| Children | 3 |
Rodney Norman Powell (born 1935),[1] is a former civil rights leader in theNashville Student Movement and an activist for LGBTQ rights.[2]
Born to Raymond and Norma Powell inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania,[3] Rodney spent his childhood in poverty. His father circled through chauffeuring, carpentry, and laboring jobs while his mother was prohibited from doing anydomestic jobs. She took up seamstressing to help with the household income.[3] Raymond was raised with three other siblings, but he held the responsibility to become the academic success in their family. He took odd jobs such as making deliveries for a Jewishdelicatessen to save up money for college.[3] Around 10 years old, Powell says he knew he was gay and struggled to understand it.[2] He spent his youth committed to theBoy Scouts and playing the violin.[3] Heading home from school with his violin one day, Powell recalled being confronted by a group of kids and was "not nonviolent", using his violin case in self defense to fight them off.[2] He attended the Catholic school,Saint Joseph's University, for his undergraduate and graduated with honors.[3] He then attended the all-blackHBCUMeharry Medical College, seeking out a "more authentic black experience".[1][2] It was, however, not what he had expected. He sought to join the Civil Rights Movement, but felt the school was not promoting the movement and the students were more interested in socialite activities.[3]
Powell's civil rights activism began after he moved toNashville, Tennessee, in 1957. Alongside other civil rights leadersDiane Nash,James Bevel, andBernard Lafayette, Powell began training innonviolent resistance under the guidance ofJames Lawson and in accordance withMartin Luther King Jr.'s nonviolent teachings.[1] This group became known as theNashville Student Movement, which began theNashville sit-ins. These sit-ins led to the desegregation of lunch counters in Nashville, making it one of the first major cities to do so.[2] During these protests Powell found it increasingly difficult to maintain nonviolence as he got aggravated. When this occurred, ReverendC. T. Vivian requested he "[g]o back to church and renew yourself to nonviolence."[1] He and his future wife, Gloria Johnson, even made a commitment to not work on the same protests together in fear of not being able to maintain their nonviolence if the other got assaulted.[3] Powell continued to work closely with Diane Nash to provide much of the organization to the 1961 Freedom Rides, however, due to threats from his school he was not able to participate without risking his medical degree.[3] Martin Luther King Jr. had once explained to their group the importance of them finishing their education, because there was a dire need for black doctors in their community.[3]
After their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, Johnson and Powell joined thePeace Corps to go to Africa.[3]
It was not until he received motivation fromSusan Ford Wiltshire that Powell began to advocate forLGBTQ rights. He was soon introduced toSoulforce, an LGBTQ organization inspired by King's teachings. Renewed in his activism, Powell contacted his peers from theCivil Rights Movement for help. However, he was turned down by most. This caused turmoil for Powell feeling ostracized by the African-American community for his sexuality leading him to leave theNAACP. In 2005 he helps Soulforce organize theEquality Ride which were modeled after the Freedom Rides. During these rides the traveled to various military and religious institutions that promoted anti-homosexual agendas. Powell was seen as a mentor among Soulforce members asMel White, founder of Soulforce, recalled how Powell pushed them to see their actions to the end and would scold them if they took bail due to it decreasing the impact of their actions. Powell now serves on the board of directors for Faith in America, an LGBTQ organization that seeks to transform organizations that discriminate towards LGBTQ members on the basis of religion.[2]
Powell met Gloria Johnson, whom he married, at Meharry. They had three children with: April Powell-Willingham, Allison Powell, and Daniel Powell.[4] Later in their marriage, Powell came out as gay which his children accepted, but Johnson expressed trouble adjusting to this information. They divorced five years later in 1975.[4][2] Afterwards, Powell left for Hawaii, so he could live as an openly gay man and was able to meet his current partner Bob Eddinger, a zoologist. He worked atJohn A. Burns School of Medicine.[3]
Powell continues to advocate for LGBTQ rights, but has taken a more relaxed role in his activism.[2] Powell is now retired from medicine, living in Honolulu with Eddinger.[3]
