They Saw Red

Welcome, I am your host, Tara Jabbari. Who was she? Podcast will focus on the stories of women throughout history that were active in the Baha’i Faith. This season is about Hazel Scott, a talented musician and activist. 

After Hazel had married Congressman, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. her music career changed from late-night jazz to a more conservative, classical approach which proved to be very successful. 

Hazel said goodbye to 1945 and to her mother Alma but 1946 brought new life. On July 17th, Hazel gave birth to a son, Adam Clayton Powell The Third, or affectionately called, Skipper. 

She said, “My greatest thrill was the first time I saw Skipper.” 

Adam and Hazel were both very busy but they made sure they would be home on weekends. During the week, a housekeeper cared for their son. Skipper, later on, said, “They decided to try to have as normal a life as possible. (Dad) would be in Washington during the week at least January through May, and (Mom) would be traveling a lot but on Saturday and Sunday, we were going to be a family. And so wherever they were, the deal was they would have to get back to New York by Friday night.”

The Powells were famous, being a celebrated and high-profile black power couple. However, behind closed doors, it was not easy, Hazel admitted, “We fought bitterly but loved each other deeply.” She confessed that she did think of ending her marriage in the first year. The constant pressure of everyday life, their bustling careers, and their public persona along with the death of her mother and a new baby were all so much for Hazel. She tried to repress her emotions which would eventually end with almost dire consequences. 

Along with all of her responsibilities and attention, she still dealt with constant racism. While touring in Canada, she was forced off a train because it was revealed blacks were not allowed to travel on this particular line. Another time, when she was in Austin for an appearance at the University of Texas, she arrived finding all seventy-five hundred seats segregated, divided by a red carpet in the middle of the aisle. She turned around and canceled the show, she had kept her vow to never play in a place that segregated the audience. She made no apologies to the audience or organizers, stating, quote, “Why would anyone come to hear me, a Negro, and refuse to sit  beside someone just like me?”  end quote 

In Pasco, Washington, a few months later, Hazel went into a diner with her friend Unice Wolf. The waitress told them they didn’t serve quote “the colored.” She was tired from the travel and the tour and she was not having any of these so-called policies. Hazel went to a police station to make a formal complaint. The desk sergeant only responded with, “Are you going to get out of here or am I going to have to run you in for disturbing the peace?” 

She left and called her husband to find them a lawyer. The Powells filed a lawsuit for fifty thousand dollars in damages against the diner owners. The complaint alleged that Hazel was denied service, “without any reason whatsoever except that she was a Negro.” 

The lawsuit made national news and Adam took it to the floor of the House. At the Federal Courthouse in Spokane, the diner owners, Mr and Mrs. Utz, and the waitress, Hilma Victor claimed it was Hazel’s behavior, not race that caused them to deny service. When the judge asked for the restaurant’s policies, Ms. Victor had to admit that she was trained not to serve “colored people.” They were only allowed to order food to go. Along with this, a witness, named Hollis D. Cowell claimed to be seated near Hazel and testified that she “conducted herself in a lady-like manner.” The jury decided the restaurant's actions were a violation of Hazel’s civil rights and granted a settlement of two hundred fifty dollars. Hazel exclaimed, “I sued and I won and I gave all the money to the NAACP!” 

In 1950, DuMont network tried competing with network giants like NBC and CBS. DuMont offered Hazel a fifteen minute show that would run locally to its New York affiliate every Friday night. It would be the first tv show to feature a black woman host. Hazel accepted the offer. 

The Hazel Scott Show debuted on July 3, 1950. Film historian, Donald Bogle described the show, “There sat a shimmering Scott at her piano like an empress on her throne, presenting at every turn a vision of a woman of experience and sophistication.” It was making television history and delivered better ratings than expected. Within weeks, the network expanded the show to national, airing three evenings a week. 

But things were about to change and not for the better. During this time, the rise of the Soviet Union's power was worrying Americans. This led to the creation of the House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to investigate people suspected of communist ideals. Senator Joseph McCarthy was a major player in these investigations. He charged many intellectuals and artists who disagreed with his political views. Unsurprisingly, Cafe Society was on the HUAC hit list which meant so was Hazel Scott. While she had never been officially a member of a Communist Party, she did agree with parts of the politics like many black activists because the party opposed colonialism. She said, “I’m not going to relax my effort to get the rights for people of color merely because the Communist Party embraced that effort.”  

She was questioned by the HUAC about her ties to Cafe Society, being in the entertainment industry, and her allegiance to America. After being questioned, in her final statement, she said: 

“I end with one request and that is that your committee protect those Americans who have honestly, wholesomely, and unselfishly tried to perfect this country and make the guarantees in our Constitution live. The actors, musicians, artists, composers and all of the men and women of the arts are eager and anxious to help to serve. Our country needs us more today than ever before. We should not be written off by the vicious slanders of little and petty men. We are one of your most effective and irreplaceable instruments in the grim struggle ahead. We will be much more useful to America if we do not enter this battle covered with the mud of slander and the filth of scandal. Thank you.” 

Though she was very poignant and dignified, the Red Scare caused permanent damage. Cafe Society closed it’s doors and The Hazel Scott Show was canceled. By 1951, Hazel had to find work outside of the United States. She performed around Europe and found that Paris was her favorite city during her travels. She was free and unrestrained amongst the French fans and laid-back culture. But this all took a toll on her marriage as the Powells were well known all over the world. She said, “I find being a public figure and being married to a public figure makes privacy a luxury.”

The toll of a demanding career, her famous marriage and all the ups and downs she had faced in just a few years caused a major mood swing and breakdown right before a performance in Paris. Her husband rushed her to a hospital and it was decided she needed to go back to the United States to get a psychiatric evaluation. 

In Mount Vernon, she received the best medical care and around-the-clock attention. The house staff took care of her son when her husband had to work in Washington. Despite all these resources, Hazel was not getting better. She started to self-medicate with alcohol and while we do not know the exact details, it is believed she tried to take her own life. 

The public was told her canceled concerts were due to an illness or influenza. Adam made sure she was watched and cared for by the most capable hands. After several months, thankfully, Hazel got better. She found simple pleasures like cooking and knitting (which she said helps keep her fingers nimble for her piano playing) and of course, being with her son.

By May 1952, a much better and stronger Hazel performed at Carnegie Hall which signaled her return after her mental illness and a victory over the HUAC’s accusations. 

In the next episode, we learn about Hazel’s continued activism, her move to Europe and the dissolution of her marriage. 

You can also find more information on our Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest @whowasshe podcast. And please, rate and subscribe wherever you listen to this podcast. Who was she was produced, written and edited by me, Tara Jabbari. Script editor is Angela Musacchio. Original music was composed and performed by Sam Redd. Resource material includes two biographies on Hazel, one 

Written by Karen Chilton, published by The University of Michigan Press and written by Susan Engle published by The Baha'i Publishing Trust, U.S.