Colin Powell, an American leader, was a pioneer of sorts in Black History. Having served the country for 35 years in the army and political space, he held influential positions many African Americans only dream about. He was the first African American to become the national security advisor in the U.S., secretary of the state, and hold the position of joint chief of staff. You probably think that the man hailed from a family with a long lineage of politicians, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Colin Powell was born on 5th April 1937 in Harlem, New York City to Jamaican immigrants. His father, Luther Theophilus Powell, was a shopping clerk while his mother, Maud Ariel, was a seamstress. Colin joined the City College of New York for a bachelor’s degree in science (geology) after high school. While studying for his degree, he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), a period that shaped his military career. Colin loved the experience so much that he was determined to join the military after college. Having graduated after the enactment of Executive Order 9981, he was sent for training in Georgia state. Even so, racial prejudice was rife around the state as Powell was refused service in restaurants and bars.
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
Colin Powell
Soon after, he took on his first political position at the White House as a fellow under the administration of President Richard Nixon. In 1983, he was appointed as the senior military assistant to Casper Weinberger, the then Secretary of Defense. He served in that role until 1987 when he became the deputy to Carlucci, the then staff of the National Security Council. At the same time, Powell became the National Security Advisor to Ronald Reagan for two years (1987-89) while serving as a lieutenant general. He was of great help to Ronald helping him negotiate treaties with the then-leader of the Soviet Union.
Colin was then promoted to a four-star general, a role that saw him serve as the Commander in Chief of Forces Command. The new role was a huge leap for an African American as he was the third general and first black man to attain a four-star rank without serving as a division commander. It was also pivotal to his career, propelling him to a nomination as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the first African American to serve in the position in African American History.
If you want to achieve excellence in big things, you must develop the habit in small
Colin Powell
things. Excellence isn’t an exception, it’s an attitude.
President George W. Bush then appointed Colin as the secretary of state in 2001 making him the first black to to serve in that capacity. Unlike others who had served in a similar role, Powell traveled less to concentrate on his duties as the president’s advisor on foreign policies. His role was of critical importance after the September 11 attack, but he failed to convince the international community to support the U.S. in the 2003 Iraq invasion. As a result, his influence waned around political spheres prompting him to resign in 2004. Colin Powell died at age 84 due to COVID-19 complications.
Colin’s contribution to Black History Online is quite evident; having risen through political and military ranks albeit the color of his skin. He’s a symbol of black achievement in spaces largely dominated by the white folk. Powell was the author of the best-selling autobiography, “My American Journey”.