Step-by-step explanation:
In 1950, Reverend Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who was an influential African-American pastor and civil rights activist, led a successful boycott against department stores in Washington, D.C., that refused to serve African-Americans. Powell was the pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York, and a member of the United States House of Representatives.
The boycott, known as the "Powell Amendment Boycott," was a response to the discriminatory practices of several major department stores in Washington, D.C., which denied service to African-American customers or relegated them to segregated sections of the stores. Powell introduced an amendment to the District of Columbia appropriations bill, which would have denied federal funds to businesses that practiced racial discrimination. The amendment aimed to pressure the department stores to change their policies and serve African-American customers on an equal basis.
The boycott gained significant support from African-Americans in Washington, D.C., as well as nationwide. African-American leaders, civil rights organizations, and community members rallied behind Powell's efforts. The boycott involved mass demonstrations, picketing, and economic pressure on the stores through a targeted refusal to patronize them.
As a result of the boycott, several major department stores in Washington, D.C., including Garfinckel's, Lansburgh's, and Hecht's, eventually agreed to desegregate their facilities and provide equal service to all customers regardless of race. The success of the boycott represented a significant victory for the civil rights movement and highlighted the power of organized grassroots activism in challenging racial discrimination.
It's worth noting that Reverend Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was also known for his broader civil rights activism and his role in fighting for racial equality and social justice throughout his career.